Impacts of desalination plant discharges on the marine environment: A critical review of published studies

Water Research
David A RobertsNathan A Knott

Abstract

Desalination of seawater is an increasingly common means by which nations satisfy demand for water. Desalination has a long history in the Middle East and Mediterranean, but expanding capacities can be found in the United States, Europe and Australia. There is therefore increasing global interest in understanding the environmental impacts of desalination plants and their discharges on the marine environment. Here we review environmental, ecological and toxicological research in this arena including monitoring and assessment of water quality and ecological attributes in receiving environments. The greatest environmental and ecological impacts have occurred around older multi-stage flash (MSF) plants discharging to water bodies with little flushing. These discharge scenarios can lead to substantial increases in salinity and temperature, and the accumulation of metals, hydrocarbons and toxic anti-fouling compounds in receiving waters. Experiments in the field and laboratory clearly demonstrate the potential for acute and chronic toxicity, and small-scale alterations to community structure following exposures to environmentally realistic concentrations of desalination brines. A clear consensus across many of the reviewed articles i...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 2, 2011·Journal of Biological Engineering·Mark R RileyMenachem Elimelech
Jun 30, 2011·Environmental Monitoring and Assessment·Esin EsenCanan Eronat
Dec 8, 2015·Water Research·Veera Gnaneswar Gude
Jan 20, 2016·Marine Pollution Bulletin·J A de-la-Ossa-CarreteroJ L Sánchez-Lizaso
Aug 26, 2014·Molecular Ecology·Ron ElranTamar Lotan
Apr 24, 2015·Journal of Fish Biology·A B M Moore
Dec 3, 2014·The Science of the Total Environment·Mariana Mayer-Pinto, Barbara Lage Ignacio
Sep 5, 2012·The Science of the Total Environment·Treavor H BoyerStephanie K L Ishii
Jul 16, 2014·The Science of the Total Environment·Brian TarrojaScott Samuelsen
Jul 3, 2016·Water Research·Jian ChangTai-Shung Chung
May 7, 2014·Environmental Science & Technology·Andrea AchilliAmy E Childress
Sep 23, 2016·Chemosphere·Xiujun TianZhongguo Zhang
Aug 23, 2019·Global Change Biology·Moslem SharifiniaMehrzad Keshavarzifard
Mar 29, 2019·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Marta Herrero-GonzalezAngel Irabien
Jun 15, 2019·Membranes·Alba Ruiz-AguirreGuillermo Zaragoza
Nov 1, 2020·Marine Pollution Bulletin·Argyris Panagopoulos, Katherine-Joanne Haralambous
Mar 29, 2021·The Science of the Total Environment·Ihsanullah IhsanullahMazen K Nazal
Aug 5, 2021·Nature Communications·Chunyang HeBrett A Bryan
Apr 19, 2018·Environmental Science & Technology·Fengmin DuJohn H Lienhard V
Dec 19, 2019·Environmental Science & Technology·Brendan P KelaherMelinda A Coleman

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.