WWhy water pollution hy water pollution should be should be

No1 No1 environmental priorityenvironmental priority??

Yannis ZabetakisAss. Professor of Food Chemistry and Lead Auditor

University of Athensizabet@chem.uoa.gr

http://environmentfood.blogspot.com/http://www.zabetakis.net/

WaterWater

The Paraguay River in Villeta, 40km south of Asuncion, in February 2009: The unusually low level of water forced Paraguayan officials to close the river to navigation. The river, which is navigable all the way out to the Atlantic Ocean past Uruguay and Argentina and is vital to commerce in this land-locked country, is at its lowest level in years and is causing daily losses to the industries that depend on it

……so smallso small……so cute…so so cute…so

liquidliquid 60%60% of our body weight is water of our body weight is water

with a MW of just with a MW of just 18 18 With such a low MW, water should With such a low MW, water should

be a gas. But thanks to the hydrogen be a gas. But thanks to the hydrogen bond water is liquid and thus there bond water is liquid and thus there is life on Earth! is life on Earth!

All chemical reactions that keep us All chemical reactions that keep us alive take place in aqueous solutionsalive take place in aqueous solutions

Water Water living [plants,bread] and living [plants,bread] and good living [wine]good living [wine]

Waste managementWaste management

Is there any such thing in Greece?Is there any such thing in Greece? How many illegal landfills do we have How many illegal landfills do we have

today in Greece? [do we need to ask Mr today in Greece? [do we need to ask Mr Dimas?]Dimas?]

WaterWater is is heavily pollutedheavily polluted due to this due to this lack of waste managementlack of waste management

Situation gets graver due to lack of any Situation gets graver due to lack of any proper auditing [e.g. companies certified proper auditing [e.g. companies certified for for ISO14001ISO14001 are are heavy pollutersheavy polluters!]!]

Waste management [II]Waste management [II]

Responsibilities of Responsibilities of Environmental and Food Environmental and Food AuditorsAuditors ( (EYEPEYEP and and EFETEFET) ? ) ?

Responsibilities of Responsibilities of greek UKASgreek UKAS ( (ESYDESYD) and ) and UK UKAS reUK UKAS re:: ISO14001 certificates ISO14001 certificates ? ?

Complete lack of proper controlsComplete lack of proper controls It has been known for 4 years that Asopos is It has been known for 4 years that Asopos is

polluted and lots of polluted and lots of foodfood [tubers, ie potatoes, [tubers, ie potatoes, carrots and onions] are produced using carrots and onions] are produced using polluted waterpolluted water……

Why Greece overlooks this problem? Why Greece overlooks this problem?

TA NEA, 19.2.2009, page 15

http://www.tanea.gr/default.asp?pid=2&ct=1&artid=4503003

Can water kill?Can water kill?

Water in Eastern Attica is polluted with Water in Eastern Attica is polluted with Nitrates Nitrates (NO(NO33

--)), , in Western Attica with in Western Attica with ….….benzenebenzene

Few km further north, in Oinofita, in Avlida Few km further north, in Oinofita, in Avlida and in Thiva, water contains toxic levels of and in Thiva, water contains toxic levels of heavy metalsheavy metals Nickel [Ni]Nickel [Ni] Chromium [Cr] and Chromium [Cr] and CrCr((VIVI)) Barium [Ba] [chemically “similar” to Calcium, Ca]Barium [Ba] [chemically “similar” to Calcium, Ca] Iron [Fe]Iron [Fe] Cobalt [Co] andCobalt [Co] and Manganese [Mn]Manganese [Mn]

Polluted Polluted

==

hazardous food ?hazardous food ?

Water pollutants can indeed Water pollutants can indeed kill !kill !

200200 dead flamincos in lake Koroneia dead flamincos in lake Koroneia (September 2007) (September 2007)

1.000 1.000 tn dead fish in Amvrakikos gulf tn dead fish in Amvrakikos gulf (February 2008)(February 2008)

Tens of tones of dead fish in Maliakos Tens of tones of dead fish in Maliakos gulf (March 2009)gulf (March 2009)

and a continuously rising number of and a continuously rising number of deaths in Oinofita due to cancer deaths in Oinofita due to cancer ((from from 6% 6% in in 19891989, more than 32% today!, more than 32% today!))……

How many Hinkleys do How many Hinkleys do we have in Greece?we have in Greece?

KoroniaKoronia LourosLouros PiniosPinios SperxeiosSperxeios EtcEtc

EtcEtc EtcEtc

Is polluted water visible?Is polluted water visible?

No…, in most cases, it is not!No…, in most cases, it is not!.. But, in Asopos, it is visible!But, in Asopos, it is visible!

Cr (VI)Cr (VI) turns red the river water turns red the river water in in AsoposAsopos

A wider water pictureA wider water picture Water availabilityWater availability has been a has been a "casus belli""casus belli"

for years. for years. Few Few years ago, Israel warned of years ago, Israel warned of a a war over waterwar over water. .

Lebanon had opened a pumping station on Lebanon had opened a pumping station on the the River HasbaniRiver Hasbani in the spring of 2001 to in the spring of 2001 to irrigate a drought-stricken village but irrigate a drought-stricken village but denied that it planned to dam the river. denied that it planned to dam the river. Israel controlled the Hasbani during its Israel controlled the Hasbani during its occupation of southern Lebanon in 1978-occupation of southern Lebanon in 1978-2000. 2000.

Today, the water of this river is completely Today, the water of this river is completely controlled by Israel. controlled by Israel.

www.news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/ 2249599.stm

Water and the food Water and the food industryindustry

The problem of The problem of good water good water managementmanagement is of pivotal importance is of pivotal importance in both food and agriculture industries in both food and agriculture industries and world geopolitics. and world geopolitics.

According to the bank JPMorgan, According to the bank JPMorgan, fivefive big food and beverage giants - Nestle, big food and beverage giants - Nestle, Unilever, Coca-Cola, Anheuser-Busch Unilever, Coca-Cola, Anheuser-Busch and Danone - consume almost and Danone - consume almost 575 575 billion litres of water a yearbillion litres of water a year, , enough to satisfy the daily water enough to satisfy the daily water needs of needs of every person on the every person on the planetplanet…… www.economist.com/business/ displaystory.cfm?

story_id=11966993

Water managementWater management The concept of The concept of water managementwater management in in

Greece is simply non-existent. The number Greece is simply non-existent. The number of of illegal wellsillegal wells is unknown and estimates is unknown and estimates of boreholes here range from 190,000 to of boreholes here range from 190,000 to 270,000. 270,000.

The best example that highlights this lack of The best example that highlights this lack of water management is water management is Lake Plastira, in Lake Plastira, in central Greececentral Greece. . While the water level of the lake is While the water level of the lake is

dangerously low, wasteful irrigation dangerously low, wasteful irrigation techniques in the plain of Thessaly and techniques in the plain of Thessaly and elsewhere continue unmonitoredelsewhere continue unmonitored……

Wells sucking Greece dry,

T. Petropoulos in Athens News, 29.8.2008

The link between food The link between food and waterand water

It takes about It takes about one litre of water to produce one litre of water to produce one calorie from food cropsone calorie from food crops. . But the biggest variable is our diet.But the biggest variable is our diet.

Europeans and Americans have for years had Europeans and Americans have for years had high proportions of meat in their dietshigh proportions of meat in their diets.. now this trend is catching on in emerging now this trend is catching on in emerging

markets as incomes rise. markets as incomes rise. Meat requires 10 times the water Meat requires 10 times the water

withdrawn per calorie by plantswithdrawn per calorie by plants, so the , so the average daily diet in California requires some average daily diet in California requires some 6,000 litres of water in agriculture, compared 6,000 litres of water in agriculture, compared with 3,000 litres in countries such as Tunisia with 3,000 litres in countries such as Tunisia and Egypt. and Egypt.

Compare these figures to the Compare these figures to the three three or four litres we drink dailyor four litres we drink daily or the or the 300-600 litres of water needed for 300-600 litres of water needed for other purposes, such as hygiene and other purposes, such as hygiene and manufacturing. manufacturing.

Unfortunately, politicians have Unfortunately, politicians have added another drain - added another drain - biofuelsbiofuels. .

It takes up to 9,100 litres of water to It takes up to 9,100 litres of water to grow the soy needed for one litre of grow the soy needed for one litre of biodiesel. biodiesel.

What is meant to alleviate a serious What is meant to alleviate a serious environmental problem (climate environmental problem (climate change) is making another, even change) is making another, even more serious problem (water more serious problem (water shortage) worse. shortage) worse.

crop water productivitycrop water productivity crop production (kg) crop production (kg)

related to the volume (m3) of related to the volume (m3) of

waterwater This data is derived from irrigation This data is derived from irrigation

experiments conducted in several parts of experiments conducted in several parts of the country on behalf of the Ministry of the country on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture (see table, the data are Agriculture (see table, the data are representative and refer to “good” years, representative and refer to “good” years, i.e. in seasons when the best crop i.e. in seasons when the best crop production was obtained). production was obtained).

(Karamanos A, et al, 2005. 4th Workshop on Water Saving in Mediterranean Agriculture. Series B: Studies and Research, 57:92).

CropCrop ProductiProductionon

(kg / ha)(kg / ha)

Water (mWater (m3) 3) for for actualactual

evapotranspiratievapotranspiration – ETc (m3 / on – ETc (m3 / ha)ha)

Crop Crop

water water productivity productivity

(kg / m3)(kg / m3)

MaizeMaize 12,00012,000 4,9804,980 2.412.41

Cotton Cotton (not (not ginned)ginned)

3,5503,550 4,5004,500 0.790.79

IndustriIndustrial al tomatotomato

97,00097,000 3,9003,900 24.8724.87

Water-Water-

MelonsMelons43,00043,000 3,5703,570 12.0412.04

VinesVines 14,80014,800 1,8501,850 8,008,00

PotatoesPotatoes 30,00030,000 4,8004,800 6.256.25

Karamanos A, et al, 2005. 4th Workshop on Water Saving in Mediterranean Agriculture. Series B: Studies and Research, 57:92).

PlantPlant MetalMetal Thiva Thiva measurementmeasurementss

MaximuMaximumm

Int. levelInt. level

CarroCarrott

CrCr 7777++15 μ15 μgg//kg kg 80 80 μμgg//kg kg

NiNi 595595++71,0 71,0 μμgg//kgkg

160 160 μμgg//kgkg

OnionOnion Cr Cr 2222++6,9 μ6,9 μgg//kg kg 190190 μμgg//kg kg

NiNi 550550++41,0 41,0 μμgg//kgkg

420 420 μμgg//kg kg

Data from University of Athens published in Athens News, 20.3.2009

Would you eat a Would you eat a nickel-carrotnickel-carrot;;

Globally> uGlobally> urgent solutions rgent solutions neededneeded

Use Use better irrigation practices in farming better irrigation practices in farming Some crops are better grown in water-rich countries, while Some crops are better grown in water-rich countries, while

others grow well with relatively little water. If water had a others grow well with relatively little water. If water had a price and if farm products could be traded freely and price and if farm products could be traded freely and without subsidieswithout subsidies across borders, a water-efficient across borders, a water-efficient allocation of production would follow. allocation of production would follow.

Stop Stop political subsidies for biofuels until more water-political subsidies for biofuels until more water-efficient crops are established (ie the so-called efficient crops are established (ie the so-called second- and third-generation plants). second- and third-generation plants).

Leading food industries must start using water more Leading food industries must start using water more efficiently - soft-drink giants are using about three efficiently - soft-drink giants are using about three litres of water for every litre of soft drink they litres of water for every litre of soft drink they produce, but produce, but one Greek branchone Greek branch in Asopos in Asopos is using is using double this (ie six litres of water per litre of soft double this (ie six litres of water per litre of soft drink). drink).

We need a We need a "water new deal" as soon as possible. "water new deal" as soon as possible. The climate change should stop being the first The climate change should stop being the first

environmental priority. environmental priority.

And locally>And locally>Food controls within EUFood controls within EU

Polluted rivers and polutted water beds are Polluted rivers and polutted water beds are used to produce food… used to produce food…

Greek state control authorities do Greek state control authorities do not intervene… Why? Until when?not intervene… Why? Until when?

Should EU control mechanisms overrule Should EU control mechanisms overrule member state authorities?member state authorities?

Producing food [tubers] that reaches all Producing food [tubers] that reaches all member statesmember states RASFF…public database on food safetyRASFF…public database on food safety Should EU citizens know about this?Should EU citizens know about this? Should stricter controls of water/food be carried Should stricter controls of water/food be carried

out?out?