Highly carcinogenic aromatic hydrocarbon benzene is discharged from chemical transport ships into the Adriatic Sea, usually after being unloaded in Italian ports, reports the portal novilist.hr
For Novi list, some Croatian sailors who have sailed, or still sail, on such ships confirmed this story. Although they themselves oppose such environmental pollution, sailors are forced to do so. Namely, ship owners require this from them since disposing of such waste is expensive, and there are few ports that can handle it.
It should be clarified that in the tanks of ships, after unloading benzene or some other chemicals, a certain amount of raw material they transport remains, which is then discharged into the sea shortly after departing from the port where the unloading took place. Sailors tell us that it usually concerns about 400 liters of liquid. The problem, however, is that the discharge of, for example, benzene – which is used as a solvent in the industry, but also for the production of medicines, varnishes, paints – is very difficult to detect because it is a colorless liquid that evaporates very easily. (www.novilist.hr)
