Coal Dust Dispersal Around a Marine Coal Terminal

Coal dust dispersal around a marine coal terminal (1977–1999), British Columbia: The fate of coal dust in the marine environment

Coat particles has increased substantially since a prior study in 1977, non-hydrolysable solids (NHS) concentrations have doubled from 1.80% in 1977 to 3.60% in 1999.

Coal distributions would likely affect those benthic flora and fauna, most susceptible to coal dust coverage and possible anoxic conditions that might arise during coal oxidation within very close proximity (0-100 m) to the coal-loading terminal.

The Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada, is notable for its biological productivity.

These habitats form the basis for populations of varied estuarine life forms (in addition

to the large numbers of migratory salmon and waterfowl) including the benthos, plankton and fish.

The ecological contribution of bottom microinvertebrates is very significant, as larvae from clams, mussels, barnacles, and crabs drift out to sea and constitute a substantial proportion of the seasonal food for juvenile salmonids and herring.

On Roberts Bank, the Dungeness crab is the only species that is exploited commercially and recreationally, representing approximately 10% of the total catch in British Columbia.

The hydrophobicity of the coal particles would result in particles staying afloat longer than assumed.

Benthic flora and fauna, which are most susceptible to coal dust coverage would likely only be affected on sediments within very close proximity (0-300 m) to the coal loading terminals.

If anoxic conditions were to arise, they would likely be the result of the natural organic detritus (non-living particulate organic material) rather than the coal content.

This would reflect a reducing environment in which bacterial degradation of the organic matter that was caused by an inhibition of lack of oxygen.

Investigations demonstrated that the growth of periphytic (attached) algae was inhibited by the reduction of...