Meghan Hodges
Marine pollution is a pressing issue that poses a threat to marine wildlife and ecosystems, as well as the industries and livelihoods that depend on them. It is primarily caused by human activities, with an estimated 80% of marine pollution originating from land-based sources such as littering, poor waste management, agricultural runoff, and industrial waste. The two main types of marine pollution are chemical and trash pollution, with plastic being the most common form of pollution in our oceans. Other significant forms of marine pollution include nutrient pollution, toxins, light pollution, noise pollution, and industrial chemicals. These pollutants have detrimental effects on marine life, including physiological disruptions, reproductive issues, and even death. With billions of pounds of pollutants entering the ocean each year, it is crucial to address and mitigate marine pollution to protect the health and biodiversity of our oceans.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | "The introduction by man, directly or indirectly, of substances or energy into the marine environment … which results or is likely to result in such deleterious effects as harm to living resources and marine life." (UNCLOS, 1982) |
| Types | Marine debris, plastic pollution, ocean acidification, nutrient pollution, toxins, underwater noise, chemical pollution |
| Sources | Land-based activity (80%), marine transportation, agricultural runoff, wind-blown debris, dust, direct discharge, land runoff, ship pollution, bilge pollution, dredging, atmospheric pollution, deep sea mining |
| Examples of Land-based Sources | Littering, storm winds, poor waste management, runoff from fertilizers, pesticides, sewage, fossil fuel burning, aquaculture, domestic waste |
| Impact | Damage to the environment, health of all organisms, and economic structures worldwide, negative health outcomes in humans and marine ecosystems, oxygen depletion in seawater, disruption of food chains |
| Prevention and Solutions | Regulations to limit or ban the use of disposable plastic items, education and awareness, prevention and cleanup efforts, collaboration between government agencies for control and monitoring |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic pollution
Plastic is a synthetic, organic polymer made from fossil fuels such as gas and petroleum. It is valued for its durability, but this also means that once it enters the ocean, it will persist for long periods, with plastic items taking hundreds of years to decompose. Plastic pollution has been detected in a wide range of marine species, from plankton to whales, and has been shown to cause internal injuries and death. It is also a major driver of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, contributing to climate change.
The sources of plastic pollution are mainly land-based, including urban and stormwater runoff, littering, industrial activities, tyre abrasion, construction, and agriculture. In the marine environment, plastic pollution is primarily caused by land runoff, but other sources include paint shed from shipping and discarded fishing gear.
The impact of plastic pollution on marine life is extensive. It has been found to affect over 900 megafaunal species, including endangered wildlife such as Hawaiian monk seals and Pacific loggerhead sea turtles. Entanglement and ingestion are common issues, with plastic litter causing internal injuries and reducing the ability of animals to swim and fly. Plastic pollution also disrupts marine ecosystems, allowing invasive species to spread and threatening biodiversity.
Addressing plastic pollution requires a combination of prevention and cleanup efforts. While cleanup may be challenging or impossible for some items, particularly those that do not float, prevention involves reducing plastic production, phasing out harmful products and chemicals, and implementing strong national plans and international agreements. Many countries have already taken steps to limit or ban disposable plastic items, and international cooperation to address the plastic crisis is increasing.
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Chemical pollution
Marine pollution is defined by the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as "the introduction by man, directly or indirectly, of substances or energy into the marine environment [...] which results or is likely to result in such deleterious effects as harm to living resources and marine life." Chemical pollution is a type of marine pollution that involves the contamination of marine environments with harmful, artificial, or anthropogenic chemical pollutants.
Sources of Chemical Pollution
- Crude oil and other petroleum products
- Antifoulants
- Pesticides
- Pharmaceuticals
- Personal care products
- Heavy metals
- Industrial discharge
- Fertilizers
- Herbicides
- Household products
- Mining
Many of these chemicals enter the ocean through agricultural runoff, wind-blown debris, dust, direct discharge, land runoff, ship pollution, bilge pollution, dredging, atmospheric pollution, and deep-sea mining.
Effects of Chemical Pollution
The effects of chemical pollution on marine ecosystems can be detrimental. For example, the increased concentration of chemicals, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, in coastal oceans can promote the growth of algal blooms, which can be toxic to wildlife and harmful to humans. These algal blooms can also smother sensitive coral reefs, leading to a loss of biodiversity and coral health. When algal blooms die off, their decomposition severely depletes the dissolved oxygen in the water, creating "dead zones" where fish and other organisms struggle to survive.
Another concern is the impact of toxic chemicals on marine food chains. Many chemicals adhere to tiny particles that are ingested by plankton and benthic animals, which are then eaten by larger predators, causing the toxins to become concentrated further up the food chain. Eventually, these toxins can end up in the food that humans consume.
Addressing Chemical Pollution
Addressing the issue of chemical pollution in the ocean requires a combination of prevention and cleanup efforts. While changing society's approach to plastic and chemical use can be challenging, it is important to encourage the use of environmentally friendly alternatives and regulate the discharge of chemicals into water sources. Additionally, educational initiatives, such as the NOAA Marine Debris Program, can help raise awareness about the impacts of chemical pollution and promote individual actions to reduce pollution.
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Nutrient pollution
Nitrogen and phosphorus act as fertilizers in marine environments, causing an explosion of plant and algal life. This process, known as eutrophication, can lead to a thick layer of algae that blocks light from reaching underwater plants, such as seagrasses, and coral reefs. When the algae and seagrass die, they are decomposed by bacteria, which consumes oxygen in the water, leading to low levels of dissolved oxygen. This process of oxygen depletion can be fatal for marine life. Eutrophication also reduces water clarity and results in critical habitat losses, such as coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangrove forests.
The impacts of nutrient pollution are exacerbated by other human activities, such as climate change. To address nutrient pollution, it is important to monitor it on a global scale and reduce nutrient inputs into coastal marine ecosystems. This involves implementing ecosystem management plans that consider both watershed areas on land and the seawater they drain into. Restoring habitats, such as mangroves and marshes, can also help remove nutrients from water before they reach the sea.
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Marine debris
Common types of marine debris include plastic items such as shopping bags, beverage bottles, balloons, bottle caps, lighters, food wrappers, and fishing gear. Plastic pollution is particularly harmful as it is long-lasting and can take hundreds of years to decompose. Plastic debris can be ingested by marine animals, leading to loss of nutrition, internal injury, intestinal blockage, starvation, and death. Seabirds are especially vulnerable, with plastic found in 90% of them. Other debris can cause entanglement, including packing bands, balloon strings, rubber bands, six-pack rings, and mesh bags.
Microplastics, formed from the breakdown of larger plastic materials, are smaller than 5 mm in diameter and have been detected in various marine species, from plankton to whales. The toxic chemicals in microplastics are ingested and migrate through the marine food web, eventually reaching humans.
Efforts to combat marine debris include prevention, cleanup, and education. The NOAA Marine Debris Program funds projects to remove and prevent marine debris from entering the ocean, with a focus on community-based initiatives. While some countries have enacted regulations to limit or ban disposable plastic items, the transition away from plastic is economically challenging.
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Industrial pollution
Marine pollution is defined by the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as "the introduction by man, directly or indirectly, of substances or energy into the marine environment … which results or is likely to result in such deleterious effects as harm to living resources and marine life." The majority of marine pollutants—up to 80%—come from land-based human activities, including industrial, agricultural, and residential waste.
Inland mining for minerals such as copper and gold is another source of industrial pollution. While most of the pollution is soil that ends up in rivers flowing into the sea, some discharged minerals can cause problems. Copper, for instance, is a common industrial pollutant that can interfere with the life history and development of coral polyps. Mining has a poor environmental track record, with the United States Environmental Protection Agency reporting that mining has contaminated portions of the headwaters of over 40% of watersheds in the western continental US.
Noise pollution from industrial activities such as shipping, seismic surveys, and drilling also falls under industrial pollution. The high level of noise created by these activities is likely to have a significant impact on marine life.
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Frequently asked questions
Marine pollution is a combination of chemicals and trash, most of which comes from land sources and is washed or blown into the ocean. It includes plastic pollution, ocean acidification, nutrient pollution, toxins, and underwater noise.
Marine pollution comes from a variety of sources, including agricultural runoff, wind-blown debris, dust, direct discharge, land runoff, ship pollution, bilge pollution, dredging, atmospheric pollution, deep-sea mining, and inland mining. The majority of marine pollution (80%) comes from land-based human activities such as littering, storm winds, poor waste management, and illegal dumping.
Marine pollution has far-reaching consequences, damaging the environment, the health of organisms, and economic structures worldwide. It harms marine life by causing entanglement, ingestion, and oxygen depletion in the ocean. Pollutants also accumulate in the tissues of marine organisms, making their way up the food chain and ultimately impacting human health.
