Greta Jimenez
Oceans are among Earth's most valuable natural resources, governing the weather, cleaning the air, helping feed the world, and providing a living for millions. However, human activities have led to the ocean being flooded with pollutants, threatening the health of our planet. The majority of the garbage that enters the ocean is plastic, which does not biodegrade and can persist in the environment for hundreds of years, polluting beaches, entangling marine life, and being ingested by animals. Plastic pollution in the ocean is largely caused by littering, with disposable and single-use plastic items ending up in waterways and eventually in the ocean. Other sources of ocean pollution include oil spills, carbon emissions, noise pollution, chemical contamination, and runoff from land-based activities such as farming and industrial processes. The consequences of ocean pollution are far-reaching, impacting both the environment and human health.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of pollutants | Fossil fuels, trash, noise, carbon emissions, oil, chemicals, plastic, fertilizer, dirt, top soil, silt, microplastics, nitrogen, phosphorus, algal blooms |
| Sources of pollution | Land-based sources, nonpoint source pollution, point source pollution, runoff, septic tanks, vehicles, farms, livestock ranches, timber harvest areas, oil or chemical spills, faulty factories, damaged water treatment systems, littering, storm winds, poor waste management, industrial fishing, manufacturing processes |
| Impact on marine life | Entangling marine life, ingestion by marine animals, accumulation in ocean gyres, harm to fish habitats, toxic to wildlife, harmful to humans, negative health outcomes |
| Impact on humans | Pollutants make their way back to humans through the food chain, leading to long-term health conditions, cancer, and birth defects |
| Prevention and solutions | Proper waste disposal, reduction of single-use plastics, use of reusable items, recycling, regulations to limit or ban disposable plastic items |
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Plastic pollution
It is estimated that 11 to 23 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, with 8 million metric tons being a commonly cited figure. This plastic pollution comes from single-use plastic bags, water bottles, drinking straws, yogurt containers, and other plastic waste that is not recycled or properly disposed of. This waste ends up in the ocean through various pathways, such as storm drains, sewers, and rivers, eventually making its way to the sea. Once in the ocean, plastic pollution can persist for centuries, as it does not readily biodegrade.
Microplastics, which are tiny particles of plastic less than 5 millimeters in size, are a significant component of marine plastic pollution. They are formed through the breakdown of larger plastic items or are added to products like liquid soaps and shampoos. These microplastics can mimic fish eggs and other small organisms, leading to their consumption by marine life. Once in the ocean, they are incredibly difficult to remove without causing harm to marine life, so they become a permanent part of the ecosystem.
The impact of plastic pollution on marine life is devastating. Marine animals can become entangled in plastic waste, such as "ghost nets," leading to injury, starvation, and even death. Smaller plastic items, like bottle caps, can obstruct the respiratory and digestive tracts of turtles and seabirds, causing further fatalities. Additionally, plastic pollution contributes to the ingestion of plastic by fish, whales, turtles, and seabirds, as they mistake it for food.
Addressing plastic pollution is crucial for safeguarding ecosystems, preserving biodiversity, and promoting a sustainable future. It requires systemic change, with governments, industries, communities, and individuals all playing their part. Solutions include reducing the use of single-use plastics, improving recycling rates, implementing control plans for pollution sources, and exploring methods for trapping plastic particles before they enter the ocean.
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Oil spills
The impact of oil spills on marine ecosystems can persist for extended periods. Oil pollution can affect spatial areas ranging from tens of square meters to thousands of square kilometers. The effects can be observed from days to years or even decades after the spill, with chronic oil pollution lasting for extended durations.
To address oil spills, specialists and veterinarians are trained to handle oiled wildlife, cleaning the oil from affected animals, rehabilitating them, and releasing them back into their natural habitats. Additionally, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 holds those responsible for oil spills accountable for the cleanup and restoration process. Federal, state, and tribal agencies collaborate with the responsible party to select restoration projects, often funded through legal settlements.
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Land-based sources
Oceans are among the most valuable natural resources on Earth, governing the weather, cleaning the air, helping feed the world, and providing a living for millions. They are also home to most of the life on Earth, from microscopic algae to the blue whale, the largest animal on the planet. However, human activities have been bombarding them with pollution.
The majority of the garbage that enters the ocean each year is plastic—and it is there to stay. Unlike other trash, single-use plastic bags, water bottles, drinking straws, and yoghurt containers will not biodegrade. Instead, they can persist in the environment for hundreds, if not a thousand, years, polluting our beaches, entangling marine life, and getting ingested by fish, whales, turtles, and seabirds.
Plastic waste makes up 80% of all marine pollution, with around 8 to 10 million metric tons of plastic ending up in the ocean each year. According to the EPA, basically 100% of all plastics ever created by humans are still in existence. The most infamous example of marine debris is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, with plastics and microplastics floating on and below the ocean surface between California and Hawaii in an area of about 1.6 million square kilometres.
The majority of plastic pollution in the ocean is caused by littering, with disposable plastic items such as food wrappings, plastic bags, razors, and bottles ending up in waterways and eventually in the ocean. However, not all plastic waste in the ocean is a result of littering; many plastics and microplastics are the product of improper manufacturing processes, and about 20% of the ocean's plastic pollution comes from industrial fishing.
One of the biggest sources of ocean pollution is nonpoint source pollution, which occurs as a result of runoff. Nonpoint source pollution can come from many sources, like septic tanks, vehicles, farms, livestock ranches, and timber harvest areas. For example, millions of motor vehicle engines drop small amounts of oil each day onto roads and parking lots, and much of this makes its way to the sea. Some water pollution starts as air pollution, which settles into waterways and oceans. Dirt can also be a pollutant, with topsoil or silt from fields or construction sites running off into waterways, harming fish and wildlife habitats.
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Chemical contamination
Marine pollution is a growing problem, with the ocean being flooded with two main types of pollution: chemicals and trash. Chemical contamination, or nutrient pollution, occurs when human activities, such as the use of fertilizer on farms, lead to the runoff of chemicals into waterways that eventually flow into the ocean. This type of pollution is concerning for health, environmental, and economic reasons.
The increased concentration of chemicals, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, in the coastal ocean promotes the growth of algal blooms, which can be toxic to wildlife and harmful to humans. Nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, also called nutrient or eutrophic pollution, has a global impact on ocean bodies and is particularly concentrated in coastal areas near the estuaries of major rivers. Agriculture is a primary source of nitrogen and phosphorus, through the runoff of excess nutrients from animal manure and chemical fertilizers.
Nonpoint source pollution, which includes runoff from septic tanks, vehicles, farms, and timber harvest areas, is a significant contributor to chemical contamination in the ocean. Point source pollution, on the other hand, refers to pollution from a single source, such as an oil or chemical spill, and while it occurs less frequently, it can have a large impact.
Toxic chemicals from industrial discharges, pharmaceutical wastes, pesticides, and sewage contribute to global declines in fish stocks. These chemicals can also become concentrated in the food chain, impacting human health. For example, methylmercury and PCBs are ocean pollutants known to have detrimental effects on infant brain development and increase the risk for autism, ADHD, and learning disorders when infants are exposed in utero through maternal consumption of contaminated seafood.
Additionally, personal care products contain cryptic chemicals that negatively impact both human and ocean health. Oxybenzone, a common ingredient in sunscreens, has been found to harm coral health and reproduction. Furthermore, perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), used in the manufacture of non-stick cookware, stain-resistant carpets, water-repellent clothing, and firefighting foam, have caused extensive contamination of surface waters and groundwater. PFAS compounds have entered the oceans in substantial quantities and, like other persistent chemicals, have been incorporated into the marine food chain.
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Noise pollution
The ocean is a valuable natural resource that covers more than 70% of our planet. It is home to most of the life on Earth, from microscopic algae to the blue whale, the largest animal on the planet. However, human activities have introduced various pollutants into the ocean, including plastic, oil spills, carbon emissions, and noise.
The primary sources of ocean noise pollution include global shipping, oil and gas exploration, construction, and naval exercises. Cargo vessels produce very low-frequency sounds that can travel hundreds of kilometres underwater, interfering with the natural sounds of the sea. Survey vessels used in oil and gas exploration send explosive sound waves into the ocean floor, creating an "acoustic hell" for marine life. Naval exercises that utilize mid-frequency sonar have also been linked to devastating physiological stress and even strandings in whales.
The constant drone of human-made noise masks the natural sounds produced by marine wildlife, disrupting their natural behaviour. For example, increased ship noise has caused bottlenose dolphins to simplify their vocal calls, which may reduce the information content of their communication. Additionally, loud shipping noises have caused whales to abandon their critical feeding grounds, threatening their survival. Noise pollution can also lead to immediate physical damage, such as hearing loss, and in extreme cases, even death.
To address this issue, there have been efforts to develop quieter technologies and implement policies for reducing propeller noise from ships. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has established guidelines encouraging the adoption of quieter ship designs to minimize underwater noise pollution. These measures include modifications to hull designs and the use of quieter propellers. Additionally, there is a need for coordinated efforts between governments, industries, and conservationists to tackle ocean noise pollution effectively.
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Frequently asked questions
The two main causes of ocean pollution are chemicals and trash. Chemical contamination, or nutrient pollution, occurs when human activities, such as the use of fertilizer on farms, lead to the runoff of chemicals into waterways that ultimately flow into the ocean. Trash, on the other hand, includes all manufactured products, most of them plastic, that end up in the ocean due to littering, storm winds, and poor waste management.
Plastic waste in the ocean is caused by littering and industrial fishing. Humans use disposable plastic items (food wrappings, plastic bags, razors, bottles, etc.) and do not dispose of them properly, causing them to end up in waterways and eventually in the ocean. In addition, about 20% of the ocean's plastic pollution comes from industrial fishing, which is a product of improper manufacturing processes.
Ocean pollution has far-reaching consequences and is tied to negative health outcomes in human health and marine ecosystems. Marine life, such as fish, whales, turtles, and seabirds, can become tangled in plastic debris and ingest it, mistaking it for food. Small organisms feed on tiny bits of broken-down plastic, called microplastics, and absorb the chemicals from the plastic into their tissues. These toxins are then deposited in human tissue when contaminated animals are consumed, potentially leading to long-term health conditions, cancer, and birth defects.
One of the simplest ways to reduce ocean pollution is to properly dispose of plastics and other recyclable materials, so they don’t end up in the ocean. Individuals can also reduce their use of disposable plastic items and opt for reusable alternatives instead.
