Beach Pollution: A Deadly Threat To Marine Life

Beach pollution is a pressing issue that poses a serious threat to the health and well-being of marine animals. From plastic waste to sewage overflows, a variety of pollutants contaminate coastal areas, wreaking havoc on the delicate ecosystems that support an array of plant and animal life. The impact of beach pollution on animals is profound and far-reaching, with an estimated 800 species of wildlife worldwide suffering the consequences. This paragraph will explore the detrimental effects of beach pollution on animals and highlight the urgent need for collective action to address this global crisis.

Plastic ingestion and entanglement

Plastic Ingestion

Marine animals, from small finches to blue whales, face the threat of ingesting microplastics and larger plastic debris. This ingestion causes intestinal injuries and even death, as plastic particles can obstruct the digestive tract. It also reduces the storage volume of the stomach, leading to starvation. Plastic ingestion further introduces toxic chemicals and pollutants into the bodies of marine organisms, causing physiological harm. These toxins can accumulate and move up the food chain, eventually reaching human seafood eaters.

Research indicates that a significant number of marine species have ingested plastic. For example, a recent study found plastic in the guts of 25% of fish sampled from California markets, and another study found that half of the sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic. The problem is pervasive, with plastic pollution affecting even remote beaches and all species of seabirds.

Plastic Entanglement

Entanglement in plastic debris is another significant threat to marine life. Animals can become entangled in larger plastic items, such as fishing gear, six-pack rings, and balloons on strings. This entanglement can cause injury, impede mobility, and lead to drowning. According to a 2015 review, entanglement has been reported in 25% of seabird species, and this proportion is expected to increase. However, entanglement may be underestimated as many entangled animals die far from land and are not detected.

Overall, plastic ingestion and entanglement have severe and often deadly consequences for marine animals. The impact of plastic pollution on these animals highlights the urgent need to address this global crisis and treat plastic pollution as the hazardous waste it is.

Oil spills

Impact on Marine Mammals

Marine mammals, such as bottlenose dolphins, are at high risk during oil spills as they spend a lot of time near the surface of the water, where oil floats. They can be exposed to oil by breathing it in, eating oiled food, or swimming through it, all of which can lead to devastating health issues.

Impact on Birds

Once oiled, birds cannot regulate their body temperature or use their feathers for insulation against water and cold weather, which can lead to death by hypothermia. Oiled birds can also die from dehydration and exhaustion.

Impact on Sea Turtles

Sea turtles, like the endangered Kemp's ridley turtle, are vulnerable to oil at all stages of life. They can inhale oil fumes and swallow oil when breathing at the ocean surface in or near oil slicks.

Impact on Fish

Sewage overflows

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reported several instances of sewage overflows contaminating water sources and causing public health issues. In one instance, a sewage overflow in Brushy Creek contaminated an aquifer that supplied drinking water to five wells in Austin, Texas. This resulted in 1,300 people experiencing symptoms such as wet diarrhea, vomiting, fever, nausea, stomach cramps, dehydration, and weight loss, which are indicative of cryptosporidiosis. Similarly, between 1997 and 1998, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recorded nine outbreaks of diarrheal diseases affecting 1,387 people who had swum in freshwater bodies. While the CDC did not specify the source of these outbreaks, the reported symptoms are consistent with exposure to sewage, including E. coli and Cryptosporidium.

In addition to the direct health impacts, sewage overflows can also disrupt economic activity, particularly in the aquatic industries. For example, in 1995, the government prohibited the harvesting of 6.7 million acres of shellfish beds, with 72% of these restrictions attributed to water pollution caused by sewage overflows. Fisheries located in waters affected by sewage overflows may face closures, reduced production, and decreased consumer confidence. The impact on tourism can also be significant, as beach closures due to sewage overflows can negatively affect small communities that rely on recreational fishing and vacation accommodations.

Furthermore, sewage overflows can degrade the habitats of endangered animals, particularly those that live in aquatic environments. The excess nutrients and algal blooms caused by sewage overflows can lead to hypoxia in freshwater bodies, resulting in the death of fish and other wildlife.

To address the issue of sewage overflows, proper treatment of sewage before disposal is crucial. However, even partially treated sewage can still contaminate water sources and harm wildlife. It is important to have measures in place to prevent leaking or flooding that can cause untreated sewage to enter water sources.

Carbon dioxide and ocean acidification

Carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas, as well as land use changes, is causing ocean acidification. The oceans absorb CO2, which alters the chemistry of seawater, making it more acidic and reducing the availability of carbonate ions. This process has increased ocean acidity by about 25% since before the Industrial Revolution, and the current rate of change is unprecedented in the last two million years.

The increase in ocean acidity has significant implications for marine life, particularly those that rely on carbonate-based shells and skeletons. Laboratory studies suggest that ocean acidification will harm these organisms, as well as those higher up the food chain that feed on them. Sea butterflies (pteropods), shell-forming algae, and amoebas are among the vulnerable species.

The challenge for marine life is twofold: decreased carbonate availability and increased acidity. The former makes it harder for calcifying organisms to build and maintain shells and other calcium carbonate structures. The latter forces organisms to expend more energy to maintain healthy body fluid chemistry, which can impair overall health and leave them more susceptible to predators.

Ocean acidification is also expected to impact the early life stages of many marine species, with larvae struggling to develop properly in more acidic conditions. This could disrupt the marine food chain and food supply to humans, as well as reduce the protective benefits reefs provide during storms.

The effects of ocean acidification are already being felt in various regions. The Pacific Northwest, Long Island Sound, Narragansett Bay, Chesapeake Bay, Gulf of Mexico, and areas off Maine and Massachusetts are hotspots, threatening the US shellfish industry. Additionally, coral structures are weakening in the Caribbean, off the coasts of Scotland and Norway, and in the Great Barrier Reef, reducing fish habitats and the resilience of reef systems.

Chemical pollution

Beach pollution is a pressing issue that poses a threat to the health and survival of various animal species. Chemical pollution, in particular, has been linked to significant harm to wildlife, with far-reaching consequences.

One of the most prominent impacts of chemical pollution on animals is the damage it causes to their nervous systems, immunity, and reproductive abilities. For instance, the presence of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in otters in England and Wales serves as a warning sign of potential contamination in other species. PFAS are synthetic chemicals that have been linked to adverse health effects, including reproductive and developmental issues, immune system disorders, and cancer. According to a recent study, otters that died between 2014 and 2019 had two types of restricted PFAS in their bodies, and 80% of them had at least 12 different types of these chemicals in their livers.

Polar bears, another species affected by chemical pollution, face challenges in an environment already made hostile by the climate crisis. The so-called "forever chemicals" impact polar bears' behaviours and hormonal balance, including their ability to search for food and mate. Polar bears rely on their memory and sharp senses for survival, and any disruption caused by chemical pollution could prove fatal.

The UK's killer whale population is also facing a dire threat. In the last two decades, there have been no new calves born to this population, and if this trend continues, a complete collapse is predicted within the next 100 years. This decline is consistent with pollution from highly persistent chemicals.

Harbour porpoises, stranded on the UK coast, have reported infectious diseases as their leading cause of death. The accumulation of harmful chemicals in their systems increases their susceptibility to these diseases, with a current concentration-related risk increase of 41%. This reduced immunity is a critical factor in the mortality of these animals in UK waters.

Additionally, young marine mammals, such as grey seal pups off the coast of Scotland, are already struggling due to the presence of harmful chemicals in their blubber. These contaminants may negatively impact their ability to survive their first year of life in the ocean.

The consequences of chemical pollution on wildlife are profound and far-reaching. It is essential to address this issue to prevent further environmental degradation and combat the ongoing biodiversity crisis.

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