Metal contamination of soils, sediments and dusts in the vicinity of marine leisure boat maintenance facilities

Metal contamination arising from boat maintenance is a growing environmental concern. In this study, metals currently or historically employed in boat paints (Ba, Cu, Pb, Sn and Zn) have been determined in geosolids sampled from within and in the vicinity of two leisure boat maintenance facilities in south west England. Samples of dusts, sediments and soils from two boatyards and from various urban control sites were fractionated through 63 mu m before being digested in boiling aqua regia. Metal concentrations were determined in sample digests by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry. Metal concentrations were highly variable in each medium but were greatest in boatyard dusts which, pre-fractionation, often contained visible particles of paint. Metal concentrations in sediments and soils were higher than concentrations in respective control samples and, in many cases, exceeded environmental quality standards or predicted effect concentrations. Observations are attributed to the heterogeneous contamination of geosolids by fine particulates of antifouling paint generated during boat maintenance and repair; specifically, particulates contaminate sediment via boatyard runoff (with rainfall and washdown water), while soil is contaminated through the deposition of fine, airborne paint dusts. This study demonstrates that boat paint particles enriched in a variety of metals contaminate both coastal and terrestrial environments. Contamination arises from the removal and dispersion of dusts during boat maintenance. Stricter measures for the containment and disposal of wastes generated by boat repair and repainting are, therefore, recommended.