Toxic Threat: Abandoned Pipelines Endanger North Sea, Scientists Warn

Scientists have raised alarms over the potential environmental hazards posed by decaying oil and gas pipelines in the North Sea, warning of the risk of releasing toxic substances like mercury, radioactive lead, and polonium-210, the latter being notorious for its involvement in the assassination of Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko.

Mercury, inherently toxic and naturally occurring in oil and gas, tends to cling to the insides of pipelines, building up as the structures age and eventually leaking into the ocean through corrosion. The release includes methylmercury, an especially harmful version of mercury that poses significant risks to marine life and can lead to severe outcomes in marine mammals such as dolphins, whales, and seals, including reproductive issues and mortality. Large fish species, known to be at the top of the food chain, like tuna and swordfish, are also at heightened risk.

Highlighting this issue, Lhiam Paton from the University of Graz’s Institute for Analytical Chemistry pointed out the grave implications of even minor increases in oceanic mercury levels for apex predators. With about 27,000 km of gas pipelines laid in the North Sea, projections suggest that mercury concentration in the waters could rise by 3% to 160%, surpassing current levels. Differing from policies in some regions that mandate pipeline removal post-operation, the North Sea regulations allow these structures to remain, leading to concerns over their long-term environmental impact.

Published research by Paton in the Journal of Hazardous Materials indicates that decommissioned pipelines could be a ticking time bomb of mercury contamination for the surrounding marine ecosystem. The specific risk to marine life and the food chain is contingent on the form of mercury released. Dr. Darren Koppel emphasizes the critical need for understanding how mercury from these pipelines could enter and affect marine food webs over time.

Beyond mercury, the presence of naturally occurring radioactive materials in subsea oil and gas reservoirs, such as radium, could accumulate in pipelines, posing additional radiological threats to sea life. The comprehensive environmental ramifications call for further study.

Hugo Tagholm of Oceana UK highlighted the broader issue of damage inflicted by oil and gas activities on marine ecosystems, focusing on mercury’s neurotoxic effects. Despite the UK’s commitment to the Minamata convention, aimed at curtailing mercury pollution, the recent issuance of new oil and gas exploration licenses in the North Sea has sparked concerns over the potential impact on the region’s biodiversity and those who rely on it.

In response, Ricky Thomson, decommissioning manager at Offshore Energies UK, affirmed the industry’s dedication to adhering to both national and international environmental standards. He stated that the decommissioning of pipelines involves thorough environmental assessments, with necessary permissions obtained from regulatory bodies.

Despite these assurances, the call for greater transparency, cooperation, and continued research into the environmental effects of derelict pipelines remains urgent, as the global network of oil and gas pipelines spans approximately 1.3 million km.