TBT rears its ugly head again

[Cornishman]

Did anyone hear the broadcast on BBC R4 today about people living in a couple of villages bordering Loch Ryan who have an unusually high incidence of multiple sclerosis and are blaming it on TBT paint being used on local fishing boats?

Is it still legal to use it in Scotland? We banned its use here many years ago except on large ocean going vessels which spend only a little time in port.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Mudhook]

Did anyone hear the bloke on R4 today (Weds 2nd July)saying it was extremely unlikely that boat stuff was the cause. He - eminent and (unusually) very sensible sounding boffin - reckoned that the most likely cause was genetic and that clusters were caused by genetic factors proliferating in small communities. He cited a number of cases in Norway (I think) where the clusters were all inland. Very sanely, he said that the jury was stilll out but that science, rather than leaping to conclusions, was more likely to bring the cause to light. No disrespect to the illustrious Cornishman intended. It's all radioactive down there anyway!

Regards, Mudhook.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Mudhook]

If anyone is interested, the learned boffin on the R4 programme can be heard at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/youandyours/

Boffin in question is Dr Giles Elrington, consultant neurologist at the Royal London Hospital

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Twister_Ken]

So what he was really saying is that the long term solution is supply the gentlemen callers with bicycles, to increase the size of the gene pool?

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[Cornishman]

You missed the point of my question - I agree that it is highly unlikely that TBT is the cause of their problem, but why is there any TBT there for them to blame?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Mudhook]

Miss your point Cornishman? Perhaps I did, for which apologies (and I confess I didn't hear the R4 programme in full). However it's worth noting that when this story originally surfaced (I read it in the papers in early June) there was no mention of fishing boats using TBT-based anti-fouling. In fact it was the fisherman who originally alerted the locals that there might be something strange in the water. As far as I know, TBT was banned on small boats (under 25m) about 12 years ago but is still legal on ships. So if it's in the sea, it's in Loch Ryan too.

Regards, Mudhook.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[ecudc]

I remember a few months ago they suggested that MS was an STD, I think that they really just have no clue.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Mirelle]

TBT is no longer legal on ships

It was finally banned two years ago, the ban came into effect last year, and by 2007 there will be none left at all (the long period is because TBT was generally used in five year paint systems - i.e. the ship only needed to drydock once every five years. That is why it was so amazingly popular. Needless to say some sly types docked and applied it at the last moment. Responsible shipowners (yes, there are plenty such) had stopped using it years before, and Japan had banned it long ago.

It would be egregious to name the well known paint companies that lobbied so hard against a ban.....

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[ianwright]

Re: TBT is no longer legal on ships

Andrew,
You wouldn't happen to have a list of ship painting companies who might have some of that five year TBT left?
I could store a couple of 45gal drums,,,,,, no charge.

A Dutch friend told me that there is an EU country where the sale of TBT is fine, but using it is banned, and just over the border you can't buy it but you CAN slap it on. The cross border trade is very popular,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

IanW

<hr width=100% size=1>Vertue 203, Patience

 

[Mirelle]

Re: TBT is no longer legal on ships

Reminds me of steaming a VLCC which had been laid up in Piraeus round to Dubai for dry docking. We had planned to dock in Greece but we had a row with the yard (who thought they had us over a barrel, and planned to charge like wounded bulls) so we waltzed out and round to Dubai with all the paint lashed on deck (and six years of growth on the bottom - we'd got a diver to clear the intakes!)

I have never seen so much paint in my life - the stack of 45 gal. drums was a good deal bigger than the average house.

Seriously, the 5 year stuff only works if you are making at least 12 knots for at least 80% of the time....

I have an offer on some new type ship stuff which is basically non-stick (allegedly!)

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Twister_Ken]

So how...

>I have an offer on some new type ship stuff which is basically non-stick<

...do you get it to stick to the hull?

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[Mirelle]

That is the great mystery

which, if some does turn up, I propose to investigate!

<hr width=100% size=1>