Chemical Pollution's Impact On Marine Life

Marine life is under threat from chemical pollution, which is caused by human activity. The ocean, which covers over 70% of the Earth's surface, is vulnerable to a wide range of pollutants, from plastic to chemical pollution. While plastic pollution is a widely known issue, the impact of chemical contaminants on marine life is equally devastating. These contaminants include pesticides, herbicides, fertilisers, detergents, oil, industrial chemicals, and sewage. The effects of chemical pollution on marine life are far-reaching and detrimental, from coral bleaching and disease to disruption of biological processes and physical environments essential for marine organisms' survival.

Marine animals ingest plastic, mistaking it for food

Marine animals are ingesting plastic at alarming rates, mistaking it for food. This issue was first observed in 1966 when researchers found plastic container lids and toys in dead Laysan albatross chicks. Since then, over 700 species, including seabirds, fish, turtles, and marine mammals, have been confirmed to eat plastic. This number is likely to increase as wildlife continues to encounter human trash.

The characteristics of plastic debris, such as colour, size, or shape, can attract certain types of wildlife. Floating plastic debris provides the perfect platform for algae to thrive. As the algae break down, they emit a sulfurous odour known as dimethyl sulfide (DMS), which attracts seabirds that associate the smell with their natural food, such as krill. The plastic is then ingested by the birds, causing serious health issues.

Another factor contributing to plastic ingestion is the size of the debris. Microplastics, or plastic pieces smaller than 5 mm, are easily consumed by a variety of marine animals, including baleen whales, mussels, oysters, and other filter feeders. These animals filter their food from water and inadvertently take in microplastics along with their regular diet.

Additionally, some marine animals actively search for and capture their prey, and in this process, they may accidentally ingest plastic marine debris. This is particularly true for birds, fish, turtles, and toothed whales. These animals may also consume prey that has already ingested plastic, leading to the transfer of plastic further up the food chain.

The ingestion of plastic has severe consequences for marine wildlife. It can cause internal injuries, intestinal blockages, starvation, and even death. Sharp or rough plastic can create cuts in the digestive system, leading to infections and internal bleeding. It can also block the digestive tract, making the animal feel full and reducing its urge to eat, resulting in malnutrition.

Furthermore, plastic can carry and release harmful pollutants and chemicals that can enter the bodies of animals when ingested. These pollutants can have detrimental effects on the health and development of marine wildlife, including their immune and reproductive systems.

Chemical pollution affects marine life at different stages

Marine life is incredibly vulnerable to chemical pollution, and contaminants can affect marine life at various stages. Chemical pollution, caused by the introduction of harmful contaminants, can have detrimental effects on marine ecosystems. Here are some ways chemical pollution impacts marine life at different stages:

Contamination of Water Sources

Chemical pollution often finds its way into water sources, such as rivers, streams, and oceans. This can occur through runoff from farms, sewage, or industrial waste. As a result, marine life in these water bodies is exposed to harmful substances. For example, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, detergents, oil, and industrial chemicals can contaminate the water, affecting the health and survival of marine organisms.

Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification

Contaminants introduced into the water can be consumed by small marine organisms, leading to bioaccumulation. This means that the toxins accumulate in the tissues of these organisms over time. When larger predators consume these contaminated organisms, the toxins move up the food chain, a process known as biomagnification. This can lead to increased toxicity and health issues in larger fish and marine mammals.

Reproduction and Development

Chemical pollution can disrupt the reproductive processes of marine life. For example, endocrine disruptors, such as synthetic hormones and chemicals found in plastics, can impair the reproductivity of fish and corals. Additionally, chemicals can interfere with the growth and development of marine organisms, reducing their chances of survival and impacting population sizes.

Direct Toxic Effects

Marine animals can suffer direct toxic effects from ingesting or absorbing chemicals. For instance, the ingestion of plastic can lead to suffocation, starvation, and toxic contamination in seabirds and other marine species. Oil spills can also have devastating consequences, causing marine animals to suffocate as oil permeates their gills. Furthermore, chemicals can increase mortality rates in larger fish and impact the health and behaviour of various marine species.

Habitat Degradation

Chemical pollution can also indirectly affect marine life by degrading their habitats. For example, discarded fishing nets and other plastic waste can smother and damage coral reefs, preventing their healthy growth. This, in turn, affects the many marine species that rely on coral reefs for food, shelter, and breeding grounds.

Alteration of Ocean Conditions

Chemical pollution can alter the ocean's temperature, pH, salinity, and oxygen levels. For instance, excess nitrogen and phosphorus in seawater can lead to oxygen depletion, creating "dead zones" where marine life struggles to survive. These changes in ocean conditions can disrupt the biological processes and physical environments that marine life depends on.

Marine animals get entangled in plastic, leading to starvation and injury

Marine animals getting entangled in plastic is a significant issue that leads to starvation, injury, and even death. Plastic pollution in the ocean, including discarded fishing gear, ropes, lines, and trash, poses a severe threat to marine life.

One of the most affected groups is marine mammals, such as whales, dolphins, and seals. These animals often become entangled as they swim or while on beaches. Entanglement restricts their movement, causing drowning, especially for smaller animals like sea turtles and seals. Larger whales may not drown immediately but face exhaustion and infection risks. The gear cutting into their flesh also causes physical trauma and infections, and they may be unable to avoid vessels, increasing the risk of vessel strikes.

Entanglement in plastic can also lead to starvation in marine animals. As the plastic remains in their stomachs, they may feel a false sense of fullness and stop seeking food, ultimately leading to starvation. This was evident in the case of a pygmy sperm whale found dead with a single plastic bag in its stomach.

The issue of entanglement is not limited to large marine creatures. Rare species like the humpback dolphin, found only in Australian and New Guinean waters, have been observed with plastic tightly wrapped around their bodies. This can cause deep cuts, leaving them vulnerable to deadly infections.

The impact of plastic pollution on marine life is devastating, and addressing it requires a combination of government action and responsible individual choices. While governments and big businesses must reduce plastic production and offer plastic-free alternatives, individuals can make a difference by recycling, reusing, and refusing single-use plastics.

Plastic pollution is carried by wind and water to oceans

Plastic pollution is a pressing environmental issue, with plastic waste causing harm to animal and human health. Plastic pollution in oceans is largely caused by littering, with people using disposable plastic items such as food wrappings, plastic bags, razors, and bottles, and not disposing of them properly. This waste ends up in waterways and, eventually, the ocean.

Wind and water are the two main ways that plastic pollution travels to the oceans. Plastic waste is often blown away while being transported to landfills, due to its lightweight composition. It then clutters drains and enters rivers and the sea. Rainwater and wind also carry plastic waste into streams and rivers, which flow into the sea.

Rivers are the main arteries that carry plastic from land to sea. During storms and heavy rain events, plastic emissions can increase tenfold as trash is washed into waterways. Once at sea, much of the plastic waste remains in coastal waters. However, it can also be caught up in ocean currents and transported around the world.

The journey of plastic pollution from land to sea can be long and complex. Plastic waste may first enter rivers or other waterways before making its way to the ocean. Along the way, it can be broken down into smaller pieces, known as microplastics, which can be spread throughout the water column and have been found in even the most remote and deepest parts of the planet.

The impact of plastic pollution on marine life is devastating. Plastic items can cause harm to animals through entanglement, ingestion, suffocation, laceration, infections, and internal injuries. Microplastics, in particular, can enter the marine food chain and have been found in the tissues of marine animals, with potential consequences for human health as well.

Oil spills harm marine life by suffocation and cancer

Marine life is affected by a wide range of chemical pollution, including pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, detergents, oil, industrial chemicals, and sewage. Oil spills are particularly harmful to marine life, causing both short- and long-term damage to the health of marine animals and plants, as well as the surrounding habitat.

Oil spills can affect marine life in two main ways: directly, from the oil itself, and indirectly, from the response or cleanup operations. The chemical constituents of oil are poisonous and can harm organisms through ingestion, inhalation, skin irritation, and eye irritation.

One of the ways in which oil spills harm marine life is by suffocation. Oil can smother some small species of fish or invertebrates, and it can also coat the feathers and fur of birds and mammals. This coating reduces their ability to maintain body temperature and can lead to hypothermia and death. For example, sea otters rely on their fur to stay warm, and if their fur becomes coated in oil, they can easily succumb to the cold.

In addition, oil spills can harm marine life by increasing the risk of cancer. While there is no concrete evidence that oil spills directly cause cancer in marine animals, gasoline, which is often present in oil spills, contains benzene, a known human carcinogen. Exposure to petroleum products has been linked to the development of liver and kidney tumors in animals. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that oil spills could contribute to cancer in marine life, even if the evidence is not yet conclusive.

Oil spills have been shown to have both immediate and long-lasting impacts on marine life. The toxic chemicals released during a spill can cause serious health issues, including damage to internal organs, digestion problems, and breathing difficulties. In some cases, oil spills can even lead to reproductive issues or death. The effects of oil spills can vary depending on the type of oil spilled, with different oils having varying levels of toxicity and persistence in the environment.

Overall, oil spills pose a significant threat to marine life, causing harm through suffocation and an increased risk of cancer, among other negative consequences. It is important to understand the impacts of oil spills to develop effective response and cleanup strategies that minimize ecological damage and promote the recovery of affected communities.

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