Ocean Pollution: Unseen Impact On Overgrowth And Health

Ocean pollution is a significant environmental issue that poses a serious threat to the health and well-being of our planet. Oceans account for 70% of the surface of the Earth and play a pivotal role in the health of our ecosystem.

Most ocean pollution begins on land, with 80% of marine pollution coming from land-based sources. One of the biggest sources is called nonpoint source pollution, which occurs as a result of runoff. Nonpoint source pollution includes many small sources, like septic tanks, cars, trucks, and boats, plus larger sources, such as farms, ranches, and forest areas.

Another major source of ocean pollution is oil spills. Crude oil spills are happening too often. A significant contributor of releasing harmful oil into our oceans are the ships that transport goods from country to country. When crude oil infects the sea, it’s challenging to clean up. It can remain in the ocean for years, affecting wildlife and the ecosystem as a whole.

Plastic waste makes up 80% of all marine pollution and around 8 to 10 million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year. Research states that, by 2050, plastic will likely outweigh all fish in the sea.

In the last ten years, we have produced more plastic products than in the previous century. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has stated that basically 100% of all plastics human beings have ever created are still in existence.

Plastic generally takes between 500-1000 years to degrade. Even then, it becomes microplastics, without fully degrading. Currently, there are about 50-75 trillion pieces of plastic and microplastics in the ocean.

This plastic either breaks down into microplastic particles, or floats around and ends up forming garbage patches. The biggest is the Great Pacific garbage patch, located between Hawaii and California.

Ocean pollution has a devastating impact on marine life and ecosystems. The most obvious one being the damage plastic items cause to animals when they come into contact with or ingest them, which include suffocation, entanglement, laceration, infections and internal injuries. 17% of the species affected by the presence of plastic in the ocean are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.

Yet, there are more problems related to plastic: floating plastic items can help transport invasive species, which leads to threats for marine ecosystems, biodiversity and the food web.

As we explained above, microplastics have now become part of the food chain and have been found everywhere: in drinking water, salt, beer and in the soil where we grow our vegetables.

Plastic materials are carcinogenic and can affect the body’s endocrine system, causing developmental, neurological, reproductive and immune disorders. Another health hazard is given by toxic contaminants that often accumulate on plastic’s surface, and are then transferred to humans through the consumption of seafood.

Plastic pollution and climate change are two sides of the same coin: plastic production, as it is created from fossil fuels, highly contributes to the climate crisis.

Moreover, as we already mentioned, when plastic waste is incinerated, it releases carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, increasing emissions and worsening global warming.

According to research, the yearly economic costs of plastic in the ocean are estimated to be between $6-19bn USD. These costs are given by its impact on tourism, fisheries and aquaculture, and (governmental) cleanups.

Runoff: Rain or snow carries pollutants from the ground to the ocean

Runoff pollution is a significant source of harmful nitrogen pollution in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Rain or snow carries pollutants from the ground to the ocean, and this is a growing problem.

As rainwater and snowmelt run off streets, parking lots, lawns, and other surfaces, they pick up contaminants such as pet waste, pesticides, fertilizer, oil, and other contaminants. If the draining water doesn't evaporate or soak into the ground, it flushes straight into local creeks, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay, adversely affecting water quality and aquatic life.

The amount of land covered by parking lots, roads, roofs, and driveways continues to grow. Meanwhile, forests, meadows, wetlands, and other natural filters are disappearing, and manmade filtration systems to control runoff have not compensated for the loss.

One promising solution to reducing runoff pollution in urban and suburban areas is to create "green infrastructure". This involves slowing down and soaking up the polluted runoff. Strategic greening efforts include:

• Planting rain gardens and other natural spaces in low-lying areas and in front of downspouts
• Attaching downspouts to rain barrels to collect rainwater, which can later be used for watering gardens
• Replacing old pavement with pervious pavement wherever possible
• Replacing grass with native plants
• Planting trees in yards, along streets, and along waterways
• Planting gardens on rooftops

These and other green solutions are cost-effective, beautify communities, and provide shade and wildlife habitat.

Oil spills: Ships that transport goods from country to country release harmful oil into the ocean

Oil spills are a form of pollution that occurs when there is a release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially the marine ecosystem, due to human activity. Oil spills can be caused by operational releases of oil or in the case of oil tanker accidents. The amount of oil released from these spills in 2023 was approximately 2,000 tonnes. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 was one of the largest oil spills in history, with roughly 134 million gallons of oil released into the ocean.

Oil spills can have severe consequences for society, including environmental, economic and social problems. Oil spills can affect both marine and coastal environments, and this situation results in not only environmental problems but also economic and social problems. Oil spills can also contaminate drinking water supplies.

Oil spills can be caused by human error, natural disasters, technical failures or deliberate releases. It is estimated that 30-50% of all oil spills are directly or indirectly caused by human error, with approximately 20-40% of oil spills being attributed to equipment failure or malfunction. Causes of oil spills are further distinguished between deliberate releases, such as operational discharges or acts of war, and accidental releases.

Oil spills can be cleaned up through physical cleanups, chemical remediation, bioremediation, and controlled burning.

Waste: Litter and unkept trash are carried by wind to the ocean

Waste, litter, and unkept trash are carried by wind to the ocean. Atmospheric pollution is often caused by littering, which includes single-use plastics and styrofoam containers. These materials can take hundreds of years to biodegrade.

Trash can be blown out of overfilled trash bins or off of trash collection vehicles. It can also be swept or washed out to sea, whether it is properly disposed of or not. In some communities, large amounts of marine debris enter the environment due to dumping or a lack of waste management options.

Trash can also be carried into the ocean through storm water that flows into streams, rivers, and eventually the ocean and Great Lakes.

Fossil fuels: Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, which is one of the most destructive contributors to climate change

Fossil fuels are a major contributor to climate change. When burned, they release carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the air. Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, causing global warming. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has found that emissions from fossil fuels are the dominant cause of global warming. In 2018, 89% of global CO2 emissions came from fossil fuels and industry.

Coal is the dirtiest fossil fuel, responsible for over 0.3C of the 1C increase in global average temperatures, making it the single largest source of global temperature rise. Oil releases a huge amount of carbon when burned, accounting for approximately a third of the world's total carbon emissions. Natural gas is still a fossil fuel and accounts for a fifth of the world's total carbon emissions.

The effects of global warming are already being felt. The average global temperature has increased by 1C, and warming above 1.5C risks further sea level rise, extreme weather, biodiversity loss, species extinction, food scarcity, and worsening health and poverty for millions of people worldwide.

Sunscreen: Sunscreen and other topicals wash off into the water when we swim in the ocean

Sunscreen and other topicals wash off into the water when we swim in the ocean. This is a problem because some of the ingredients in sunscreen are toxic to sea creatures, including oxybenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, avobenzone, and several benzophenones. Oxybenzone, for example, decreases reproduction in fish and causes defects in young mussels.

To reduce the amount of sunscreen that washes off into the ocean, it is recommended to use sunscreen with only the active ingredients titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. These are considered ocean-friendly sunscreens because they contain tiny minerals that physically block harmful rays from the sun.

It is also recommended to reapply sunscreen every two hours, or every hour if you are out in the early afternoon or in the water, and to wear UV-rated clothing like a swim shirt or rash guard.

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