Brian Barton
Beach pollution is a pressing issue that poses serious health risks to people and wildlife. It is caused by a range of pollutants, including litter, sewage, plastic, oil, and other chemicals. To combat this, various chemical techniques have been developed to clean and prevent beach pollution. For example, chemical dispersion can be used to break down oil spills into small droplets, while shoreline cleaners and biodegradation agents can help remove oil from the shoreline. In addition, adopting green chemistry practices, such as banning hard-to-manage substances like expanded polystyrene and limiting the use of harmful chemicals, can reduce the amount of toxic pollutants that end up on our beaches. Improving wastewater management and stormwater management can also prevent pollutants from reaching the ocean, protecting both human and environmental health. While these chemical techniques play a crucial role in beach cleanup and pollution prevention, it's important to note that natural cleanup methods and personal actions, such as reducing plastic use and proper disposal of chemicals, are also essential components of comprehensive beach pollution solutions.
Techniques to help clean beach pollution
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Shoreline flushing/washing | Water hoses can be used to rinse oil from the shoreline into the water, where it can be more easily collected |
| Booms | Long, floating, interconnected barriers are used to minimize the spread of spilled oil |
| Vacuums | Industrial-sized vacuum trucks can suction oil from the shoreline or on the water surface |
| Shoreline cleaners and biodegradation agents | Chemical cleaners that act like soaps may be used to remove oil, but require special permission; nutrients may be added to help microbes break down oil |
| Burning | Also referred to as "in situ burning," freshly spilled oil can be set on fire, usually when it's floating on the water surface and sometimes on oiled marsh vegetation, in order to effectively remove it |
| Manual removal | Cleanup crews using shovels or other hand tools can pick up oil from the shoreline, especially when heavy machinery cannot be used |
| Mechanical removal | When there is access, heavy machinery, such as backhoes or front-end loaders, may be used |
| Dispersion | Chemicals are applied to the water surface to break the oil into small droplets |
| River interception | The Ocean Cleanup's river cleanup technology, Interceptors, are solar-powered catamaran-like vessels that are put into the mouth of polluted rivers; as the water flows, trash is guided onto a conveyor belt and dumped into a shuttle, which carries it to dumpsters on a barge |
| Enzymes | Scientists have discovered enzymes that can break down polyester |
| Sticky biofilm | Researchers from Hong Kong Polytechnic University devised a sticky biofilm from a bacterium that can incorporate microplastics |
| Carbon nanotube magnets | Scientists at the University of Adelaide created spring-shaped carbon nanotube magnets that grab microplastics and break them down into harmless water-soluble pieces |
| Magnetic liquid | A chemistry student in the Netherlands invented a device where microplastics attach themselves to a magnetic liquid; the contents can then be removed with a magnet, leaving only water behind |
| Personal action | Individuals can take steps to reduce ground leaching of chemicals and toxic materials, reduce carbon emissions, and protect marine wildlife, such as eating organic foods, cleaning with natural ingredients, and avoiding chemical pesticides |
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What You'll Learn
- Chemical cleaners: Soaps and detergents can be used to remove oil, but they can damage beaches
- Bioremediation: Using bacteria to break down oil, this method requires secluded sites
- In-situ burning: Freshly spilled oil on the water surface can be set on fire for removal
- Nutrient addition: Adding nutrients to help microbes break down oil more effectively
- Dispersion: Chemicals are used to break down oil into small droplets to remove it from water
Chemical cleaners: Soaps and detergents can be used to remove oil, but they can damage beaches
Soaps and detergents can be used to remove oil from beaches. These chemical cleaners act like soaps and are known as shoreline cleaners. They require special permission for their use due to their potential environmental impact. Shoreline flushing or washing is a technique that involves using water hoses to rinse oil from the shoreline into the water, where it can be more easily collected.
However, soaps and detergents can also damage beaches and the surrounding environment. These products often contain phosphates, a type of phosphorus, which can end up on beaches and in oceans through drainage systems. An excess of phosphates and nitrogen in water can cause harmful algal blooms (HABs) to develop, which are detrimental to aquatic ecosystems and can release toxins that harm humans and wildlife.
To mitigate the potential damage caused by soaps and detergents, individuals can take several actions. These include reducing the use of chemical cleaning products and opting for natural ingredients instead, as well as properly disposing of cleaning products to prevent them from reaching water bodies. Additionally, individuals can minimize plastic use, choose non-toxic chemicals, and follow “catch and release” practices to reduce the impact of pollution on beaches and marine life.
While chemical cleaners have their place in beach cleanup efforts, it is important to consider their potential environmental impact. Alternative methods, such as beach cleanups and the use of technology like Ocean Cleanup's Interceptors, can also play a significant role in removing pollution from beaches and preventing it from reaching the ocean in the first place. By combining different strategies and individual actions, we can work towards cleaner and healthier beaches.
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Bioremediation: Using bacteria to break down oil, this method requires secluded sites
Bioremediation is a process that uses specific microorganisms or plants to metabolize and remove harmful substances. It is an eco-friendly and cost-effective method of cleaning up beach pollution, particularly oil spills. The process involves the use of bacteria, archaea, algae, fungi, and some plant species to break down toxic waste products into safer constituents.
One of the key advantages of bioremediation is its ability to target and break down hydrocarbon pollutants, which are commonly found in oil spills. Hydrocarbons can be degraded through phototrophic, chemotrophic aerobic, or chemotrophic anaerobic processes, with bacteria identified as the most active agents in this breakdown process.
To enhance the efficiency of bioremediation, ideal conditions must be maintained, including pH, RED-OX potential, temperature, moisture, oxygen levels, nutrient availability, soil composition, and pollutant structure. Additionally, the use of microbial cultures, enzyme supplements, and nutrient additives can accelerate the rate of biodegradation.
The success of bioremediation also depends on the baseline populations of oil-degrading microorganisms in the affected area. Typically, these microorganisms account for less than 1% of the microbiome in marine ecosystems. However, through the addition of substrates, their population can be boosted to around 10%.
It is important to note that bioremediation requires secluded sites as it is a lengthy process that can be influenced by environmental factors such as weathering, soil and pollutant chemicals, and the physiological needs of the organisms involved. By containing the polluted area, bioremediation can effectively break down oil spills and restore the affected ecosystem.
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In-situ burning: Freshly spilled oil on the water surface can be set on fire for removal
In-situ burning is a technique used to burn freshly spilled oil floating on the water's surface. This process involves applying an ignition source to a concentrated amount of oil, removing it from the water.
For in-situ burning to be successful, the oil layer must be at least 2-3mm thick to prevent the wind and sea from extinguishing the flames. The oil can be contained against a barrier, such as an ice sheet, shoreline, or fire-resistant booms.
Ignition can be achieved through various methods, including a diesel-soaked rag or more advanced equipment like a Heli-torch. The Heli-torch is a device attached to a helicopter that releases burning gelled fuel onto the oil. Pyrotechnic devices, such as Pyroid or Dome igniters, can also be used by hand or dropped by helicopter.
In-situ burning is generally conducted when winds are blowing away from populated areas to mitigate the potential impact of toxic smoke on human health. It is also dependent on favourable weather and sea conditions, as choppy seas may extinguish the fire.
This technique can effectively remove approximately 100 gallons per day per square foot of surface area under ideal conditions. It converts oil into carbon dioxide, water, and a small amount of residue by-products.
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Nutrient addition: Adding nutrients to help microbes break down oil more effectively
Nutrient addition is a chemical technique used to help clean up beach pollution, specifically oil spills. This process involves adding nutrients to a polluted area to help microbes break down oil more effectively. The nutrients used are typically phosphorus-based and nitrogen-based fertilizers, which provide the necessary compounds for microbes to grow and multiply quickly. This process is generally implemented once the oil approaches the shoreline, as it is a time-consuming procedure and is not typically used for deep-sea spills.
The addition of these fertilizers increases the availability of nutrients for indigenous petroleum-degrading microorganisms, which can then break down the oil. These microbes will reduce, oxidize, ferment, and demobilize the constituents of oil spills over time, creating innocuous compounds. This process is known as bioremediation, which has been used in notable oil spills such as the 1989 Exxon Valdez incident, where the application of fertilizer increased biodegradation rates.
Bioremediation is a less labor-intensive and expensive method of oil spill cleanup, and it also averts chemical or mechanical damage. This technique requires maintaining ideal conditions, such as pH, temperature, moisture, oxygen abundance, and nutrient availability, to facilitate the desired biological reactions. One example of a bioremediation product is Oil Spill Eater II (OSE II), which has been used in over 89,000 cleanups since 1989. OSE II enhances indigenous bacteria to digest hydrocarbons through enzymatic activity, permanently removing them from the environment in less than 30 days.
While nutrient addition through bioremediation is effective in breaking down oil, there are potential drawbacks. The fertilizers used can also aid the growth of unwanted algae, which can negatively impact marine life by consuming oxygen and blocking sunlight from reaching deeper water levels. Therefore, when considering nutrient addition as a cleanup technique, it is essential to carefully evaluate the potential benefits and drawbacks to ensure the best outcome for the affected ecosystem.
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Dispersion: Chemicals are used to break down oil into small droplets to remove it from water
Oil spills can wreak havoc on the environment, and one of the techniques used to combat them is dispersion. This method involves the use of chemicals, known as dispersants, to break down oil into minuscule droplets, facilitating its removal from water.
Dispersants are chemical agents that act similarly to soaps and detergents. They are applied directly to oil spills, either on the surface or below, by specialised boats or planes. These dispersants break up the oil slick into extremely small droplets, which then disperse throughout the water. While this doesn't eliminate the spilled oil, it transforms it into a form that is more easily biodegradable. The tiny oil droplets, often smaller than the period at the end of a sentence, are more accessible for microbes in the water to break down. This natural biodegradation process is aided by factors such as wind, currents, waves, and other forms of turbulence.
The use of dispersants is a complex decision that requires careful consideration of various factors. Environmental conditions, such as water salinity, temperature, and sea energy, play a crucial role in the effectiveness of dispersants. The type of oil is also a significant factor, with heavy crude oils typically being more challenging to disperse than light- to medium-weight oils. Additionally, the viscosity of the oil is important, with viscosities below 2,000 centipoises being optimal for dispersant effectiveness.
The benefits of using dispersants include reducing the amount of oil that reaches the shore and protecting sensitive habitats from surface slicks. However, there are trade-offs and potential drawbacks. Dispersants may increase the exposure of underwater aquatic life to toxicity, as the dispersed oil and dispersant chemicals can penetrate deeper into the coastal terrain, where biodegradation is less effective. Furthermore, some dispersants have been found to increase the toxicity of oil, exacerbating the ecological impact of the spill.
To optimise the use of dispersants, ongoing research and coordination efforts are vital. Since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, there has been a heightened focus on dispersant-related research, with organisations like the JITF working to enhance collaboration among researchers, industry, and academia. These collective efforts aim to improve the understanding of dispersants' benefits, limitations, safety, and environmental trade-offs.
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