Greta Jimenez
Oceans are being polluted by a variety of human activities, with 80% of marine litter originating on land. This includes runoff from farms, vehicles, factories, and other sources, as well as littering, poor waste management, and natural disasters. Oil spills, plastic pollution, and chemical discharges are also significant contributors to ocean pollution. These pollutants have far-reaching consequences, impacting the health of marine ecosystems and humans alike. Marine life is harmed by ingestion of plastics and other debris, entanglement, and habitat destruction, while toxins accumulate in seafood and enter the human food chain. With oceans absorbing a significant portion of carbon emissions, the pH level of ocean surfaces has increased by an estimated 30% since the Industrial Revolution, leading to acidification. The vastness of the oceans, covering 70% of our planet, makes them a critical natural resource that requires protection from the detrimental effects of pollution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Marine debris | Plastic debris, microplastics, derelict fishing gear, abandoned vessels, natural rubber, synthetic microfibers, etc. |
| Chemical contamination | Fossil fuels, carbon emissions, chemical runoff, nitrogen, phosphorus, raw sewage, etc. |
| Oil spills | Oil from boats, airplanes, cars, trucks, lawn mowers, factories, etc. |
| Noise pollution | From ships, sonar devices, seismic airguns, etc. |
| Point source pollution | Oil spills, chemical spills, discharge from faulty factories or water treatment systems, etc. |
| Nonpoint source pollution | Runoff from septic tanks, vehicles, farms, timber harvest areas, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
- Marine debris, including plastic, fishing gear, and abandoned vessels
- Nonpoint source pollution, e.g. runoff from farms, septic tanks, and vehicles
- Point source pollution, e.g. oil spills and chemical discharges from factories
- Carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels, leading to ocean acidification
- Noise pollution, which affects marine mammals and other sea creatures
Marine debris, including plastic, fishing gear, and abandoned vessels
Marine debris is a persistent pollution problem that affects the entire ocean and the Great Lakes. It includes a wide range of materials, from tiny microplastics to abandoned vessels and derelict fishing gear. Marine debris is defined as any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and intentionally or unintentionally disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment.
Plastic pollution is a significant contributor to marine debris. Plastic waste, such as plastic bags, food wrappers, and cigarette butts, accounts for a large proportion of the trash in the ocean. In 2016, it was estimated that 23 million metric tons of plastic waste entered aquatic ecosystems globally. Plastic pollution can have severe consequences for marine life, as animals may mistake it for food or become entangled in it. Microplastics, in particular, can be ingested by marine organisms, disrupting their natural hormone production and endocrine function, causing shell disease, and affecting reproduction.
Fishing gear is another major component of marine debris. Abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear, often referred to as "ghost gear," can make up a significant percentage of marine debris found during beach cleanups. This gear, which includes lines, nets, pots, traps, and floats, can continue to trap and kill marine animals, damage sensitive habitats, and interfere with active fishing practices. The economic impact of ghost gear can also be significant, affecting commercial fisheries and fish populations.
Derelict vessels and other large debris, such as construction waste and household appliances, can also pose a threat to marine environments. These items can damage habitats, create navigation hazards, and persist in the environment for extended periods.
The sources of marine debris are primarily human activities, with 80% of marine litter originating from land-based sources and gradually making its way to the ocean through storm drains, sewers, and other routes. Land-based sources include runoff pollution from septic tanks, vehicles, farms, and timber harvest areas, as well as oil spills and chemical discharges from factories. Marine debris can also come from ocean-based sources, such as oil spills from boats and planes, and lost or discarded fishing gear.
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Nonpoint source pollution, e.g. runoff from farms, septic tanks, and vehicles
Nonpoint source pollution is the leading cause of water quality problems. It is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground, picking up and carrying pollutants, and depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and groundwater. Nonpoint source pollution is distinct from point source pollution, which comes from a single source such as an oil or chemical spill.
Farms are a significant contributor to nonpoint source pollution. Agricultural practices, including the use of fertilizers and pesticides, can contaminate nearby water sources through runoff. This type of pollution can have harmful effects on drinking water supplies, recreation, fisheries, and wildlife. To reduce the impact of agricultural practices on nonpoint source pollution, positive steps such as implementing buffer strips, conservation tillage, and nutrient management practices can be taken.
Septic tanks are another source of nonpoint pollution. When septic tanks are not properly maintained or overflow, they can release untreated sewage into the environment, which can eventually make its way into nearby water sources. This type of pollution can contaminate drinking water and harm aquatic ecosystems.
Vehicles also contribute to nonpoint source pollution through automotive facilities and stormwater runoff. Pollutants from vehicles, such as oil, grease, and heavy metals, can wash off roads and parking lots during rainfall or snowmelt, making their way into nearby water bodies. Additionally, vehicles can emit pollutants into the air, which can then be deposited into water sources through precipitation.
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Point source pollution, e.g. oil spills and chemical discharges from factories
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines point-source pollution as "any single identifiable source of pollution from which pollutants are discharged, such as a pipe, ditch, ship or factory smokestack." Oil spills are a major form of point-source pollution, and they can be caused by human error, natural disasters, technical failures, or deliberate releases. Oil spills can have devastating environmental and economic impacts, as they penetrate the structure of the plumage of birds and the fur of mammals, reducing their insulating abilities and making them more vulnerable to temperature changes and less buoyant in the water.
Oil spills at sea are different from those on land, as oil spreads more quickly in water, and the majority of the spilled oil remains in the environment. Oil spills on land do not spread as quickly, and the effects thus remain local. The cleanup and recovery process for oil spills is difficult and expensive, and it depends on factors such as the type of oil spilled, the temperature of the water, and the types of shorelines and beaches involved.
Another significant contributor to point-source pollution is the discharge of chemicals and other pollutants from factories. Factories, including oil refineries, pulp and paper mills, and chemical, electronics, and automobile manufacturers, typically discharge one or more pollutants in their effluents. Some factories discharge their effluents directly into water bodies, while others treat the waste themselves or send it to sewage treatment plants for treatment.
To control point-source discharges, the Clean Water Act established the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Under this program, factories, sewage treatment plants, and other point sources must obtain a permit before discharging waste into any body of water. These sources are required to use the latest technologies available to treat their effluents and reduce pollutant levels.
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Carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels, leading to ocean acidification
Oceans are a critical natural resource, governing weather patterns, cleaning the air, providing food, and supporting the livelihoods of millions. However, human activities are severely threatening the health of our oceans, with marine debris, noise, oil, and carbon emissions all contributing to ocean pollution.
One of the most pressing issues is the impact of carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels, which is causing ocean acidification. The oceans absorb a significant portion of the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted through the burning of fossil fuels, currently estimated at around one-third of all human-induced CO2. This absorption leads to a process called ocean acidification, which poses a severe threat to marine life, ecosystems, and human economies.
When CO2 dissolves in seawater, it forms carbonic acid (H2CO3), releasing hydrogen ions (H+) and reducing the availability of carbonate ions. This increase in hydrogen ions leads to a lower pH, making the seawater more acidic. The pH level of the ocean surface has already increased by an estimated 30% since the start of the industrial revolution, and if carbon emissions continue to rise, the surface waters could be nearly 150% more acidic by the end of the century.
Ocean acidification has significant implications for marine life, particularly organisms that rely on calcium carbonate to develop and maintain their shells and skeletons. This includes various types of plankton, oysters, crabs, sea urchins, shrimps, lobsters, clams, mussels, and corals. The increase in ocean acidity makes it more challenging for these organisms to maintain their calcified structures, threatening their survival and disrupting marine ecosystems.
To address this issue, it is crucial to reduce carbon emissions by transitioning away from the use of fossil fuels and finding more carbon sinks, such as regrowing mangroves, seagrass beds, and marshes. By taking action on climate change and implementing solutions to reduce our carbon footprint, we can help mitigate the harmful effects of ocean acidification and protect the health of our oceans for future generations.
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Noise pollution, which affects marine mammals and other sea creatures
The ocean is a victim of various types of pollution, including noise pollution. Noise pollution in the ocean has increased dramatically over the past few decades, threatening the natural soundscape of the marine environment. Ships, seismic surveys, explosions, construction, and sonar devices have made the ocean noisy, which is extremely damaging to marine wildlife.
Noise pollution can interfere with the detection of acoustic signals in the marine environment. This means that the sound we create in the ocean masks the sounds produced by marine wildlife, including marine mammals and other sea creatures. Marine mammals may compensate for noise by increasing the volume of their calls, but this can lead to hearing loss and behavioural and physiological changes.
Noise pollution has been shown to affect the feeding behaviour of endangered blue whales. In an experiment, blue whales responded to active sonar by stopping feeding, increasing their swimming speed, and moving away from the sound source. This can have significant impacts on the whales' individual fitness, foraging ecology, and population health.
Bottlenose dolphins have also been observed to simplify their vocal calls in response to increased ship noise. Higher whistle frequencies and reduced complexity were recorded, which may decrease effective communication.
Noise pollution can also lead to a reduction in population recruitment for some marine species. For example, exposure to turbine noise during larval development resulted in increased body malformations for scallops.
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Frequently asked questions
Ocean pollution is primarily caused by human activities on land, with 80% of marine litter originating from land-based sources. This includes runoff from farms, vehicles, septic tanks, factories, and water treatment systems, as well as littering and poor waste management practices.
Ocean pollution has negative impacts on both human health and marine ecosystems. Small organisms ingest toxins, which are then passed on to larger predators, including seafood that humans consume. This can lead to long-term health issues, cancer, and birth defects. Marine life can also be harmed or killed by ingesting or becoming entangled in marine debris, and their habitats can be damaged.
Reducing ocean pollution requires a combination of prevention and cleanup efforts. Individuals can properly dispose of plastics and other recyclables, choose reusable items over single-use plastics, and opt for organic fertilizers. Countries are also taking action, with over 60 countries enacting regulations to limit or ban disposable plastic items.
