Kiera Jefferson
The ocean is the origin of all life on Earth, but it is under threat from pollution. Marine pollution is a combination of chemicals and trash, most of which comes from land sources and is washed or blown into the ocean. Some water pollution starts as air pollution, which settles into waterways and oceans. The top six ocean pollutants are plastic, nutrients from fertilizer runoff, nonpoint sources, light, noise, and industrial chemicals. Plastic is the most common pollutant, with plastic bags, bottles, food containers, and cutlery being the most common items found in the ocean. Other common pollutants include cigarette butts, metal cans, paper bags, and fishing gear. These pollutants have severe environmental, health, and economic impacts, killing ecosystems, threatening wildlife, and affecting human health.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic | Plastic bags, bottles, food containers, cutlery, wrappers, straws, stirrers, synthetic rope, fishing items, microplastics |
| Nutrients from fertilizer runoff | Nitrogen, phosphorus |
| Nonpoint sources | Dirt, silt, topsoil |
| Light | |
| Noise | From shipping and military activity |
| Industrial chemicals | Crude oil, agricultural nutrients |
| Other items | Metal beverage cans, paper bags, cigarette butts |
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Plastic pollution
Single-use plastic products, such as plastic bags, bottles, and straws, are major contributors to ocean plastic pollution. Despite efforts to ban or reduce their use, the proliferation of these items persists. For example, during the 2022 International Coastal Ocean cleanup, over 1 million plastic bottles and more than 1 million plastic bags were collected. Plastic pollution also extends to less visible sources, such as microplastics from vehicle tires and textiles, and liquid soaps, which can have a significant impact on marine life and the environment.
The relentless production and disposal of plastic materials have turned our planet into a dumping ground for plastic debris. This plastic waste ends up in the ocean through various pathways, including urban runoff, construction sites, and marine sources such as discarded fishing gear. To address the problem of ocean plastic pollution, systemic change is needed, with governments and industries working together to reduce plastic consumption, improve recycling rates, and develop sustainable alternatives.
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Chemical runoff
The ocean is the largest source of life on Earth, regulating the planet's climate and providing humans with food and water. However, human activities along coastlines and far inland have led to significant pollution, with eighty percent of marine pollution originating from land-based sources. One of the most significant contributors to ocean pollution is chemical runoff, also known as nonpoint source pollution.
Nonpoint source pollution arises from a multitude of small and dispersed sources, including farms, ranches, vehicles, and septic tanks. This form of pollution is particularly challenging to address due to its diverse and widespread origins. Chemical runoff, a significant component of nonpoint source pollution, occurs when chemicals and pollutants from various land-based activities are washed into nearby water bodies, eventually making their way into the ocean.
Agricultural practices, including the use of synthetic fertilizers, are a primary source of chemical runoff. Fertilizers applied to farmlands can contain high concentrations of synthesized nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates. When excess fertilizers are not absorbed by crops, they can be washed away by rainwater or irrigation systems, draining into nearby rivers and streams. These chemicals then flow downstream, eventually reaching the ocean, causing a process known as eutrophication, which leads to the creation of vast ""dead zones" devoid of aquatic life. The Gulf of Mexico, for instance, is affected by agricultural runoff from the Midwest, resulting in a seasonal dead zone that can span up to 8,000 square miles.
In addition to agricultural chemicals, runoff from urban areas also contributes to ocean pollution. This can include oil leaks from vehicles, which wash into waterways during rainstorms or when washing cars on paved surfaces. Construction sites and gardens can also contribute to chemical runoff, as dirt, topsoil, and silt are washed into oceans, harming fish and wildlife habitats. Furthermore, industrial activities can release chemicals into water bodies, with factories and water treatment systems sometimes discharging pollutants directly into oceans, contributing to what is known as point source pollution.
The impact of chemical runoff on ocean ecosystems is profound. It disrupts the delicate balance of marine environments, threatening the biodiversity that relies on these habitats. Additionally, chemical runoff can have direct impacts on human health, rendering river and ocean water unsafe for human use and consumption. To address this issue, individuals, communities, and governments must work together to implement sustainable practices and reduce the use of harmful chemicals, particularly in agriculture. This includes encouraging the use of soil tests to determine fertilizer needs, promoting vegan or vegetarian diets to reduce the need for animal feed, and advocating for the creation and restoration of wetlands to absorb and mitigate the impact of chemical runoff.
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Air pollution
While some ocean pollution is directly caused by human activities at sea, such as oil spills, most of the pollution in our oceans 80% originates on land. This includes pollution from the air, which settles into waterways and oceans. Atmospheric pollution, caused by littering, includes single-use plastics such as plastic bags, plastic bottles, food containers, and styrofoam containers, which can take hundreds of years to biodegrade.
Plastic is the leading source of ocean pollution. It is estimated that there are 170 trillion particles of plastic in the ocean, or roughly 21,250 pieces of plastic for every person on the planet. Plastic bags, in particular, are one of the most deadly types of plastic in the ocean for marine life, as animals often mistake them for food. Plastic bags can take up to 20 years to decompose, and their lightweight nature means they can travel far distances. Plastic bottles, on the other hand, can take around 450 years to decompose.
Nonpoint source pollution, which occurs as a result of runoff, is another major contributor to ocean pollution. This can include pollution from septic tanks, vehicles, farms, livestock ranches, construction sites, and timber harvest areas. For example, after a heavy rainstorm, water flows off roads into the ocean, taking oil left on the streets from cars with it. Wind can also carry dirt and debris from nonpoint sources and deposit them on the ocean's surface.
In addition to plastic and nonpoint source pollution, other forms of air pollution that impact ocean health include carbon emissions, noise pollution, and industrial chemicals. These pollutants can have devastating effects on marine life and ecosystems, as well as human health.
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Noise pollution
Marine mammals, such as whales, dolphins, and porpoises, are highly dependent on underwater sound for critical activities such as communication, breeding, foraging, maintaining social structure, and avoiding predators. Noise pollution interferes with these natural behaviours by masking the acoustic signals and vocalizations used by marine wildlife. This can cause changes in individual and social behaviour, altered metabolisms, and hampered population recruitment, affecting the health and function of marine ecosystems. For example, increased ship noise has caused bottlenose dolphins to simplify their vocal calls, potentially reducing the information content of their calls and decreasing effective communication.
The effects of noise pollution on one species can also indirectly impact others. For instance, if a whale strands on a beach due to noise pollution, seafloor-dwelling animals that rely on the whale's body for food lose a key food source.
To reduce noise pollution and its impacts on marine life, policies and quieter technologies are needed to mitigate propeller noise from ships, sonar equipment, seismic air guns, pile driving, and construction.
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Cigarette butts
The problem of cigarette butt pollution is not limited to coastal areas but is widespread, with wind and rain carrying discarded butts to sewers and waterways before they eventually end up in the ocean. This has inspired communities worldwide to find solutions, such as banning single-use plastic cigarette filters and increasing public awareness about the issue.
Despite anti-litter campaigns, some smokers continue to dispose of cigarette butts improperly, with some believing that filters are biodegradable or that it is acceptable to throw them on the ground. The toxic chemicals in cigarette filters pose a significant threat to marine life, with a single butt enough to kill fish in a stream. Cigarette butts are also found in the stomachs of seabirds, further highlighting the extent of their environmental impact.
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Frequently asked questions
The most common sources of ocean pollution are plastic, nutrients from fertilizer runoff, nonpoint sources, light, noise, and industrial chemicals.
Nonpoint source pollution occurs as a result of runoff. It includes many small sources, like septic tanks, cars, trucks, and boats, as well as larger sources, such as farms, ranches, and forest areas.
Plastic enters the ocean through littering, storm winds, and poor waste management. Plastic pollution is particularly harmful because it is long-lasting and can take hundreds of years to decompose.
Common plastic items found in the ocean include bags, bottles, food containers, cutlery, wrappers, synthetic rope, and fishing items.
Ocean pollution can kill marine life through entanglement or ingestion. Marine animals can mistake plastic items for food, and the ingestion of plastic can lead to serious health issues. Additionally, chemical pollution, such as nutrient runoff, can create hypoxic zones in the ocean, leading to mass die-offs of fish and other marine life.
