## 3 The Health and Environmental Consequences of Current Shipbreaking Practices
An in-depth assessment of the impact of shipbreaking on the environment and human health globally is beyond the scope of this paper. To exemplify the detrimental effects of current shipbreaking practices, several illustrative examples are provided below. Hazardous materials emitted into the atmosphere, coastal waters, and soil during dismantling include asbestos, glass wool, paint chips, potentially toxic elements, polyvinyl chloride, ozone-depleting substances, PCB-contaminated waste, plastics, sludge, oils, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), organotins, sulfur fumes, dioxins, and sewage [3]. Therefore, the environment around shipwaking yards is contaminated with high levels of various contaminants. The soil samples from 15 different shipbreaking yards in Bangladesh were collected in December 2015 and July 2016, and concentrations of eight potentially toxic elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were determined by [PERSON] et al. [72]. Metal concentrations in soil were relatively high for Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Zn. The zone where materials from ships are cleaned and stored was the most contaminated. A study that determined heavy metal content in the fish and seawater of the Gadani shipbreaking area in Pakistan showed that fish species had high levels of Pb, Ni, Mn, and Cd [73]. A study conducted in Gadani, Pakistan, revealed a notably elevated concentration of PAHs, SCCPs, and PCBs at the shipbreaking yard [20]. Among the PAHs analyzed, phenan-threne was the most frequently detected compound, a finding consistent with previous research conducted in European and Asian regions, including South Korea and India. However, the observed median concentrations of phenanthrene exceeded those reported in earlier investigations. Additionally, the concentration of phenanthrene surpassed the levels observed in ambient air in Shanghai, China, and in industrial locations in Taiwan. The estimated levels of PCBs in the air near shipbreaking operations were comparable to those reported in monitoring studies conducted in Southeast Asian regions impacted by informal e-waste treatment. The occurrence of emerging pollutants near Alang, India, has also been investigated [74]. A comprehensive chemical analysis of water and sediment samples identified 119 and 88 organic compounds, respectively. The water samples contained 95 aliphatic and 24 aromatic compounds, while the sediment samples comprised 76 aliphatic and 12 aromatic compounds. Octacosane, tetratetracontane, heneicosane, and 2-methyloctacosane were the most abundant compounds in the water samples, while tridecanoic acid and 2-pyrrolidinone were dominant in the sediment samples. Both samples contained 7,9-di-tert-butyl-1-oxaspiro(4,5)deca-6,9-dien and phthal acid, bis (7-methyloctyl) ester, which exhibited the highest peak heights. The results indicated that ship dismantling significantly contributes to the degradation of marine water quality. Soil and air samples collected near shipyards on the island of Zhoushan in China have exhibited the highest concentrations of SCCPs, suggesting their release from metal cutting fluids and marine paints used in shipbuilding operations [75]. Occupational exposure to a mixture of hazardous materials in shipbreaking yards can occur through the inhalation of airborne particles and fumes, dermal contact with contaminated materials, the ingestion of contaminated food and water, and the incidental ingestion of soil particles. Residents in surrounding areas may be exposed through groundwater, food, air, and soil. Human exposure to a mixture of contaminants present in shipbreaking areas can lead to adverse health effects. However, the scientific literature on this topic is relatively sparse. Studies that were performed to determine human health risks indicate an increase in the hazard ratio for certain diseases [76].