Greta Jimenez
Oceans are among the 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 been polluting the oceans for decades, and the problem is worsening. Marine debris, including plastic, sewage, industrial and chemical waste, oil spills, and carbon emissions, has contaminated the surface of every ocean, the deep sea, sea ice, and every level of the food web. The first scientific findings of marine plastic debris were published in 1972, and since then, plastic pollution has become ubiquitous across all ocean basins. The sources of plastic entering the ocean are diverse, and the solutions to this complex issue require collaboration between various stakeholders. While some water pollution starts as air pollution, such as carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels, other sources include runoff from land-based activities like farming and timber harvesting. The impact of ocean pollution on marine ecosystems and coastal economies is significant, and urgent action is needed to address this growing crisis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First scientific findings of marine plastic debris | Published in 1972 |
| First long-term data set on plastic debris | 1986 |
| Discovery of the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" | 1996 |
| Ocean acidification | Increased by an estimated 30% since the start of the industrial revolution 200 years ago |
| Plastic production | Up to 422 million tonnes annually |
| Plastic bags used annually | Up to 5 trillion |
| Plastic in the ocean | 15-51 trillion pieces |
| Plastic pollution in the ocean | All five of the Earth's major ocean gyres are inundated |
| Marine debris | From microplastics smaller than 5mm to derelict fishing gear and abandoned vessels |
| Marine species impacted by marine debris | Hundreds |
| Oil spills | 1989 Exxon Valdez tanker spill, 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling disaster |
| Nonpoint source pollution | Runoff from septic tanks, vehicles, farms, livestock ranches, timber harvest areas, and topsoil or silt from fields or construction sites |
| Point source pollution | Oil or chemical spills, discharge from faulty or damaged factories or water treatment systems |
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What You'll Learn
The history of plastic pollution research
In 1996, Captain Charles Moore discovered the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch", a vast accumulation of plastic debris in the middle of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, and published his findings in 2001. Since then, the field of plastic pollution research has grown exponentially, with an increasing number of scientific papers and media coverage elevating the issue to the global stage. Researchers are no longer questioning whether plastic pollution exists, but rather seeking to understand its processes, extent, and impact on global change.
The sources of plastic entering the ocean are diverse, ranging from land-based sources such as littering, poor waste management, and runoff from rivers to ocean-based sources like derelict fishing gear and abandoned vessels. The types of plastics found in the environment are also diverse, coming from hundreds of different products with varying chemical compositions. This complexity has led to a growing body of research investigating the interactions between plastic particles and physical and biological environments.
While the bulk of early research on plastic pollution was conducted in the open ocean, the focus has since shifted to coastal waters, shallow bays, estuaries, and beaches, which are closer to the sources of pollution. This shift has allowed researchers to study the contamination of not only the ocean surface and deep sea but also sea ice and various levels of the food web.
The increasing awareness of plastic pollution has also spurred a growing policy movement at various levels of government, from municipal to international. Efforts to address plastic pollution include improving waste management systems, promoting a circular economy, innovating new materials and technologies, and educating the public about the impact of plastic on the environment and human health.
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How plastic pollution affects marine life
The story of plastic pollution began decades ago in remote central ocean gyres. Today, plastic debris is found across all ocean basins, ecosystems, habitats, and food webs, including seafood and sea salt. Marine plastic pollution has impacted at least 267 species worldwide, including 86% of all sea turtle species, 44% of all seabird species, and 43% of all marine mammal species.
Plastic pollution affects marine life in several ways. One of the most common impacts is entanglement, where marine animals become trapped in plastic fishing gear, such as nets and lines, leading to injury, starvation, and increased vulnerability to predators. Discarded fishing nets can also smother and break coral reefs, hindering their healthy growth.
Another significant issue is the ingestion of plastic by marine organisms. Seabirds that feed on the ocean surface, as well as fish, molluscs, and other marine species, often mistake small plastic fragments for food. This ingestion can lead to suffocation, starvation, and toxic contamination. Research has shown that fish, mussels, and oysters are consuming microplastics, which can accumulate toxic chemicals up to one million times more than the surrounding water. These toxins can then be transmitted through the marine food web, even reaching apex predators such as great white sharks and orcas, and ultimately, humans.
Additionally, plastic debris can transport invasive species and pollutants through ocean currents. Persistent organic pollutants adhere to the surface of plastic, and marine life that ingests these plastics can absorb the toxins into their bodies. This contamination has been observed in the human food chain, with fish and seafood found to contain ingested plastic fragments.
The impact of plastic pollution on marine life is a growing concern, and it requires immediate and diverse solutions, including plastic reduction, improved waste management, innovation, cleanup efforts, and public education.
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The impact of carbon emissions on ocean acidity
The burning of fossil fuels has polluted our oceans with carbon emissions, oil, and plastic debris. Oceans absorb a significant amount of the carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere, which has led to a process known as ocean acidification. This process has severe implications for marine life, ecosystems, and human economies.
Ocean acidification is a direct consequence of rising carbon dioxide emissions. The ocean absorbs approximately a quarter to a third of all human-induced CO2. When CO2 dissolves in seawater, it forms carbonic acid (H2CO3), releasing hydrogen ions (H+) and increasing ocean acidity. The pH scale, which measures acidity, runs from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. The higher the number above 7, the more basic or alkaline the solution, and the lower the number below 7, the more acidic it is. As the ocean absorbs more CO2, its pH decreases, making it more acidic.
This increase in acidity has detrimental effects on marine life, particularly organisms that rely on calcium to develop and maintain their shells and skeletons. These include plankton, oysters, crabs, sea urchins, shrimps, and lobsters. Ocean acidification makes it more difficult for these organisms to maintain their calcified structures, which can lead to disruptions within food chains. It also impacts the ability of coral reefs to recover.
The impact of ocean acidification extends beyond marine life to human economies and industries. Fisheries and aquaculture, such as shellfish and oyster farms, are already facing significant challenges due to the reduction of minerals necessary for shellfish growth. A study in the United States estimated that the country's shellfish industry could lose more than $400 million annually by 2100 due to ocean acidification. Additionally, warming ocean temperatures caused by increased CO2 concentrations have led to a rapid increase in toxic algal blooms, which produce dangerous neurotoxins that accumulate in shellfish, posing risks to human health and resulting in fishery closures.
To address the root cause of ocean acidification, it is crucial to curb CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels and implement measures to reduce our carbon footprint. By understanding the far-reaching consequences of carbon emissions on ocean acidity, we can better appreciate the urgency of addressing this global issue.
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Oil spills and ocean pollution
Oil spills have been a major environmental concern since the 1960s, largely due to intensified petroleum exploration and the use of supertankers for transportation. Oil spills can occur due to well discharges, tanker operations, and natural seepage from the ocean floor. The release of oil into the ocean can have devastating and long-lasting impacts on marine ecosystems. Oil spills can harm sea creatures, ruin beaches, and make seafood unsafe to eat. Oil destroys the insulating and waterproofing abilities of feathers and fur, leading to hypothermia in birds and marine mammals. It also impairs the growth and reproduction of adult fish and can be toxic when ingested.
Oil spills are considered point source pollution, which refers to pollution from a single source. While these events are less frequent, they often have significant impacts. The BP Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010, for example, spread millions of gallons of oil throughout the Gulf of Mexico, affecting coastal communities and marine life. Even with advanced cleanup efforts, only a fraction of the oil may be removed, and sometimes hazardous technologies are employed, introducing additional pollutants.
The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 established that those responsible for oil spills can be held accountable for cleanup and restoration costs. Over the last three decades, more than $9 billion has been recovered from parties responsible for oil spills to restore affected areas. While stringent shipping and environmental regulations have reduced the occurrence of major oil spills from supertankers, thousands of minor spills and several major ones continue to be reported each year.
Oil spills are just one aspect of ocean pollution, which also includes carbon emissions, plastic pollution, noise pollution, and chemical discharges. The oceans absorb a significant portion of our carbon emissions, leading to acidification and changes in marine ecosystems. Plastic pollution, in particular, has been found in all ocean basins, ecosystems, habitats, and food webs, including seafood and sea salt. Marine debris, such as derelict fishing gear and abandoned vessels, can entangle or be ingested by marine life, damaging habitats and threatening their survival.
The health of our oceans is of utmost importance, as they cover more than 70% of our planet, govern weather patterns, clean the air, help feed the world, and provide a home to most of Earth's life forms. It is crucial that we address the diverse sources of ocean pollution and work towards implementing a range of solutions to protect and restore the health of our oceans.
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Nonpoint source pollution and its causes
Ocean pollution has been an issue for decades, with marine ecosystems being drowned in trash, noise, oil, and carbon emissions, and microplastics. One of the significant contributors to ocean pollution is nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, which occurs when rainwater and snowmelt carry natural and human-made pollutants into water bodies. NPS pollution is the most common type of ocean pollution, and it has various causes that can be broadly categorized into agricultural and urban sources.
Agricultural activities, such as farming and ranching, contribute significantly to NPS pollution. Fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and animal waste from farms can be washed into nearby water bodies by rainwater or snowmelt, leading to excessive nutrient levels in the water. This, in turn, can cause over-fertilization of lakes and streams, harming aquatic life and reducing water quality. Sediment, which is soil eroded from farm fields, construction sites, and streambanks, is another agricultural pollutant. Sediment can damage fish gills, impair the breathing of aquatic insects, and reduce sunlight penetration, affecting plant growth. Additionally, sediments can carry other pollutants, such as metals and toxic chemicals, further degrading water quality.
Urbanization and urban activities are also major contributors to NPS pollution. Urban runoff carries various pollutants, including oil, pet waste, road salt, bacteria, and sediment, into storm drains and, eventually, into lakes and streams. Urban development can also lead to habitat modification, such as the channelization of streams and disturbance of riparian corridors, which can impact water quality and aquatic habitats. Forestry activities, such as timber harvesting and road construction, can also fall under NPS pollution causes, as they can remove streamside vegetation and contribute to soil erosion.
Additionally, nonpoint source pollution can come from vehicles, septic tanks, and livestock ranches. The pollutants from these sources are carried by runoff into nearby water bodies, contributing to the degradation of water quality and aquatic ecosystems. NPS pollution has widespread impacts, damaging aquatic habitats, harming aquatic life, and reducing the availability of safe drinking water and recreational water resources.
Addressing NPS pollution requires a comprehensive approach that targets both agricultural and urban sources. Implementing best management practices in agriculture, such as proper waste management and reduced chemical usage, can help minimize the impact on water bodies. In urban areas, improving stormwater management and treatment systems, as well as restoring and preserving wetlands and riparian areas, can help mitigate NPS pollution.
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Frequently asked questions
Humans have been polluting the oceans for decades, and the problem is getting worse.
The majority of ocean pollution comes from human activities along coastlines and far inland. The biggest sources of pollution are non-point sources, which include runoff from septic tanks, vehicles, farms, and timber harvest areas. Other sources include oil spills, plastic pollution, and noise pollution.
Plastic pollution has a direct and deadly effect on marine wildlife. Marine animals can become entangled in plastic or ingest it, mistaking it for food. Plastic can cause internal injuries and even death. Research indicates that half of the sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic, and it is estimated that 60% of all seabird species have eaten plastic.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the largest accumulation of plastic in the world, located in the north-central Pacific Ocean. It is a gyre of plastic debris, including single-use plastic bags, water bottles, and fishing gear, which endangers marine life and interferes with navigation safety.
To reduce ocean pollution, we need a diverse toolbox of solutions, including plastic reduction, improved waste management systems, innovation in new materials and technologies, cleanup efforts, outreach, and education. Local and global organizations are working together to address this issue, but it will require a collective effort from governments, industries, and the public worldwide.
