WAKE UP

Goddard explores the environmentally damaging aspects of cruise ships, as well as ways they are trying to boost their sustainability. The first, and arguably most important of these are the emissions associated with cruise ships. These have human health impacts for those living near port cities, as sulfur oxides irritate nose, throat and lung airways, and can make people more susceptible to asthma attacks. Sulfur oxides are not the only emissions of course, as carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides are also produced by the vast amounts of "bunker fuel" which is required to fuel these ships, as well as, particulate matter which contains organic carbon, black carbon, polycyclic hydrocarbons and heavy metals. Another impact is due to the anti-fouling paint used on the hulls of these ships. This paint is used to discourage the growth of barnacles and other marine organisms on the hull of the ship; however, it has been found they can shed toxic heavy metals into the ocean which then make their way into the marine food web and may bioaccumulate. The final way that cruise ships may cause environmental harm is through waste discharge.