Greta Jimenez
Life below water is being threatened by various human activities, and air pollution is one of the key contributors. Air pollution can contaminate water bodies, leading to acidification and eutrophication, which can negatively impact the growth of marine life. Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and sulfur, for example, can lead to excess acid in lakes and streams, harming aquatic ecosystems. Oil spills, pesticide runoff, and plastic pollution are also significant issues, damaging marine life and ecosystems. The effects of air pollution on water bodies are complex and far-reaching, and addressing them requires a combination of measures, including reducing emissions, improving recycling practices, and implementing protective laws and regulations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Oil spills | Oil tankers have spilled nearly six million tonnes of oil since 1970, with one litre of oil able to pollute one million litres of water |
| Pesticides | Only 1% of pesticide chemicals reach their target, with the remaining 99% entering the environment and being washed into the ocean |
| Plastic pollution | The equivalent of one rubbish truck of plastic is dumped into the oceans every minute |
| Microplastics | Microplastics enter the ocean through wastewater from homes, such as from washing machines |
| Ozone depletion | Air pollutants can damage the ozone layer, allowing harmful UV radiation to reach the Earth |
| Ocean acidification | Airborne carbon dioxide is absorbed by seawater, causing chemical reactions that reduce seawater pH and may negatively affect marine organisms |
| Eutrophication | Can amplify the rate at which water pH fluctuates |
| Mercury | Mercury in the air can fall into water bodies, negatively affecting the physiological processes of phytoplankton |
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What You'll Learn
Oil spills from tankers and vessels
One of the earliest major oil spills occurred in 1960 when the Sinclair Petrolore vessel spilled approximately 60,000 tonnes of crude oil along the Brazilian coastline, resulting in the death of thousands of marine species. The Torrey Canyon disaster in the 1960s off the coast of Brittany, France, released 120,000 tonnes of crude oil into the sea after the ship crashed into rocks. This spill caused an extensive oil slick that spread over 700 square kilometres.
Another notable incident was the Prestige oil spill off the coast of Spain, which caused one of the country's worst marine ecological disasters. The ship sank near Galicia, releasing 77,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil and severely damaging the region's ecosystem. In 2007, a collision between the Iranian-owned tanker Sanchi and a Chinese cargo ship resulted in the spillage of 136,000 tonnes of oil near Shanghai. This accident is considered one of the worst oil spills in the last 30 years.
To address the issue of oil spills, countries like the UK and the USA have enacted laws such as the Oil Pollution Act. Additionally, there has been a push for double-hulled vessels, which provide an extra layer of protection in the event of a collision or grounding. These measures aim to mitigate the environmental impact of oil spills and protect marine life.
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Pesticides washed into the ocean from farms
Pesticides are chemicals used by farmers to kill insects and other pests that harm their crops. They are designed to be toxic to a target organism, but they often end up killing other organisms as well. For example, the insecticide azinphos-methyl is used to control insects such as biting mites and aphids, but it is also very toxic to fish and birds. Herbicides, which are used to kill weeds, are the most prevalent type of pesticide residue found in rivers and oceans.
Pesticides enter water bodies through surface water runoff from farms and other agricultural lands. They can also enter waterbodies as a result of "spray drift," where the wind blows some of the sprayed pesticides into a nearby water body. In addition, pesticides can be carried by water molecules, especially during precipitation events, as they percolate downward into soil layers and eventually reach surface waters and groundwater. This process is known as bioaccumulation, and it can result in the accumulation of pesticides in the bodies of aquatic organisms and sediment soil, posing health risks to humans and other species.
A global assessment of the mobility of 92 agricultural pesticides found that rivers receive a significant amount of pesticides from their drainage, with only a small percentage degraded along streams. As a result, high concentrations of pesticides are released into the oceans, exceeding safety levels. This has negative consequences for marine life and can also reduce the supply of clean water for human consumption.
To address the problem of pesticide pollution in oceans, it is necessary to implement measures that reduce the use of harmful pesticides and improve their management. This may include promoting sustainable and organic farming practices, as well as improving regulations and monitoring of pesticide use and disposal. By reducing the amount of pesticides that enter water bodies, we can help protect marine life and ensure a safer and healthier environment for all.
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Plastic pollution from bins, landfill sites, and fishermen
Plastic pollution is a pressing environmental issue, with plastic waste making up 80% of all marine pollution. The majority of plastic pollution in the ocean comes from land-based sources, including litter, trash, and debris from construction, ports, marinas, landfills, and industrial facilities. Plastic waste is also generated by ocean-based sources, such as discharges from ships and discarded fishing gear, which account for about 20% of marine plastic pollution.
The durability of plastic is a significant concern, with an estimated 400-year lifespan for some plastic products. This durability contributes to the accumulation of plastic waste in the ocean, which flows downstream through rivers and accumulates in coastal waters before being transported by ocean currents worldwide. The improper disposal of single-use plastic items, such as food wrappings, plastic bags, bottles, and razors, is a primary contributor to this issue.
The impact of plastic pollution on marine life is devastating. It causes harm through ingestion, entanglement, laceration, infections, and internal injuries. Sea turtles, for example, often mistake plastic for food, leading to choking, internal injuries, and starvation. Plastic pollution also affects their reproduction rates by altering the temperature of the sand where incubation occurs. Additionally, floating plastic debris can facilitate the spread of invasive species, disrupting marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and the food web.
Microplastics, which are smaller plastic particles, have been detected in drinking water, salt, beer, soil, and even the air we breathe. They have also been found in human blood, lungs, and feces, raising concerns about their impact on human health. The presence of microplastics in the food chain is a growing concern, with fish in the North Pacific ingesting significant amounts of plastic and transferring it up the food chain to larger marine life and, ultimately, human seafood eaters.
Efforts to address plastic pollution are gaining momentum, with international cooperation increasing and the UN Environment Assembly working towards legally binding instruments to tackle this crisis. However, change is slow, and the need for urgent action to protect marine life and ecosystems is evident.
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Microplastics from wastewater in our homes
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that are less than 5mm in size. They come from a variety of sources, including synthetic clothing, wet wipes, and even smaller particles shed from larger plastic objects through natural weathering processes. These microplastics eventually find their way into our oceans, lakes, and rivers, posing a significant threat to marine life and the environment.
One of the main ways microplastics enter our waterways is through wastewater from our homes. When we wash synthetic clothing, tiny plastic fibres are released into the water. Similarly, when we use personal care products containing microbeads, these microplastics go down the drain and enter the wastewater stream. While wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are designed to treat sewage and remove contaminants, microplastics present unique challenges due to their small size and lack of uniformity in shape, density, and size.
The lack of standard protocols and removal technologies makes it difficult to detect and remove microplastics effectively from wastewater. Current methods can only detect particles as small as 10-20 micrometers, but microplastics can be even smaller, meaning a significant percentage may be overlooked. This is concerning because these tiny particles can have serious ecological impacts. Microplastics can be ingested by marine organisms, leading to gut blockage and starvation, and they can also attract and carry harmful viruses and bacteria.
To address the issue of microplastics in wastewater, innovative solutions are being developed across industries. Researchers are working on improving detection methods to better identify and remove microplastics from wastewater. Additionally, there is a growing emphasis on reducing plastic consumption and promoting planet-friendly behaviours to minimize the release of microplastics into the environment in the first place. Education and awareness play a crucial role in driving real change, encouraging individuals to reduce their use of single-use plastics and properly dispose of or recycle plastic products.
By understanding the sources and impacts of microplastics in wastewater, we can take collective action to mitigate their effects on life below water. This includes supporting research and innovation, advocating for legislation and sound technologies, and making conscious choices in our daily lives to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastics responsibly. Together, we can protect and preserve the health of our oceans and the diverse life they sustain.
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Ocean acidification from carbon dioxide
Ocean acidification is a significant consequence of increased carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere. Since the Industrial Revolution, human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, have led to a substantial rise in atmospheric CO2 concentrations. As a result, the ocean, which absorbs about 30% of atmospheric CO2, now contains higher levels of this gas, causing a series of chemical reactions that increase the concentration of hydrogen ions and decrease the pH of seawater, making it more acidic.
This increase in ocean acidity has far-reaching implications for marine ecosystems. Firstly, it directly affects the growth and survival of various marine organisms. Many organisms, including clams, mussels, crabs, oysters, corals, and some plankton species, rely on carbonate ions to build and maintain their shells and skeletal structures. As the ocean becomes more acidic, the concentration of carbonate ions decreases, making it challenging for these organisms to form and maintain their shells. This can have cascading effects on marine food chains and ecosystems, as these organisms are a vital food source for other marine species.
Additionally, ocean acidification can interact with warming ocean temperatures, exacerbating the detrimental effects on marine life. In regions with warmer waters, the upper layers become saturated with CO2 and struggle to absorb more, leading to decreased oxygen levels in the lower layers, a process known as deoxygenation. This combination of increased acidity and decreased oxygen availability poses a significant threat to the diverse and abundant life that thrives in healthy marine ecosystems.
The impact of ocean acidification extends beyond the immediate effects on marine organisms. For example, phytoplankton, which form the base of the marine food chain, have an optimal pH range of 6.3 to 10. Fluctuations in water pH due to acidification can negatively affect their growth and physiological processes, including photosynthesis. This can have ripple effects throughout the entire marine food web, potentially disrupting the balance of marine ecosystems.
To address ocean acidification, it is crucial to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide. This can be achieved through a combination of measures, including transitioning to cleaner energy sources, improving energy efficiency, adopting more sustainable land-use practices, and implementing policies that promote planet-friendly behaviours and technologies. By working together to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels, we can help mitigate the harmful effects of ocean acidification on marine life and ecosystems.
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Frequently asked questions
Air pollution can cause ocean acidification, which occurs when carbon dioxide (CO2) is absorbed by seawater, reducing seawater pH and potentially affecting marine life.
Ocean acidification can negatively impact the growth of marine phytoplankton by fluctuating the pH of the water. This can disrupt the physiological processes of phytoplankton, including photosynthesis.
Air pollution can lead to oil spills and pesticide runoff into the ocean. Oil spills can coat birds' wings, clog the blowholes of whales and dolphins, and contaminate seafood. Pesticides, when washed into the ocean, can act as pollutants and harm marine life.
To address the problem of pollution, it is crucial to clean up existing pollution and establish laws and measures to protect the oceans from future pollution. Implementing planet-friendly fishing methods and creating marine protected areas can help reduce overfishing and give the sea a chance to recover. Additionally, promoting behavioural changes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and educating people about recycling and planet-friendly practices can positively impact life below water.
