By Richard Torné
Cruise ships should be made to comply with far stricter emissions controls amid warnings marine diesel is “100 times more toxic” than the fuel used in vehicles, environmental pressure group Ecologistas en Acción has said.
Marine diesel oil is considerably cheaper than the diesel used by cars and lorries but contains 3,500 times more sulphur and ultra-fine PM10 particulates, which are extremely harmful to human health as they are absorbed directly into the bloodstream, leading to cardio-vascular and lung disease as well as cancer.
EA, which was repeating a warning issued by the German environmental group Nabu, claims that passengers on cruise ships and people who live close to ports should be better informed about the risks to health.
