Shipping cited as major pollution source

NEWARK, Del., Nov. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say air pollution from oceangoing ships is responsible for an estimated 60,000 cardiopulmonary and lung cancer deaths each year.

The report, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, said the areas most affected by particulate emissions are East Asia, South Asia and Europe.

The study estimated global and regional morality by integrating global ship inventories, atmospheric models and health impacts formulas.

"We demonstrate that this is a multicontinental impact. You can’t isolate the impacts to only one region,” study co-author James Corbett, associate professor of marine policy at the University of Delaware, said Wednesday in a release. "With more than half the world’s population living in coastal regions and freight growth outpacing other sectors, all modes of goods movement will need to meet stricter control targets."

The Toronto Star said the biggest cause of pollution is the sulfur-laden Bunker C fuel that powers the ships. The American Petroleum Institute estimates it would cost $126 billion to convert refineries around the world to produce cleaner fuels for marine engines, the newspaper said.