Brian Barton
Our oceans are being harmed by pollution, which is threatening the lives of marine animals and even affecting our food sources. Ocean pollution is caused by plastic waste, sewage, oil spills, and other chemicals that enter the ocean. Marine animals often mistake plastic for food, which fills their stomachs and causes them to starve. Plastic waste can also trap and kill animals, and when it breaks down into microplastics, it becomes nearly impossible to remove from the ocean. With every stream leading to a river and every river leading to the ocean, even litter on a city street can eventually end up in the sea. We can all do our part to reduce ocean pollution by reusing, recycling, and reducing plastic waste.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Types of pollution | Chemical, acoustic, plastic, and trash |
| Causes of pollution | Oil and gas exploration on the seabed, military exercises, shipping traffic, deep-sea mining, sewage outflows, industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, littering, storm winds, and poor waste management |
| Effects of pollution | Illness, death, injury, confusion, entrapment, damage to homes, reduced food availability, impaired fertility and immune systems, climate change, economic impact |
| Solutions | Prevention, cleanup, reduction in plastic use, improved waste management, recycling, regulations, and bans on disposable plastic items |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic pollution
The impact of plastic pollution on marine life is devastating. Sea turtles, for example, can mistake floating plastic for food, leading to choking, internal injuries, or starvation. Research indicates that half of the sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic. Seabirds are also affected, with plastic ingestion reducing stomach capacity and causing starvation. It is estimated that 60% of seabird species have eaten plastic, and this number is predicted to rise to 99% by 2050. Marine mammals, such as whales and seals, are not exempt from the dangers of plastic pollution, as they can ingest or become entangled in plastic debris, leading to injury and death.
The Ocean Conservancy has reported that China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam are the top five contributors to plastic pollution in the sea. This is due to their high levels of plastic emissions, which account for 90% of all plastic in the ocean. Additionally, plastic pollution is not limited to the ocean's surface but can also be found in deep-sea sediments, ocean trenches, and even the Arctic ice sheets.
To address plastic pollution in the sea, urgent global action is required. This includes improved waste management, plastic reduction strategies, and enhanced international cooperation. Individuals can also play a role by reducing their plastic consumption, avoiding single-use plastics, and participating in beach clean-ups. Educating oneself and others about the issue is also important, as highlighted by CBBC's efforts to raise awareness among young people through programmes like 'The Deep: Plastic Ocean SOS' and 'Blue Planet'.
The consequences of plastic pollution in the sea are severe and far-reaching. If left unchecked, it is estimated that by 2050, the oceans might contain more plastic weight than fish. This underscores the critical need for collective efforts to tackle this global crisis and protect the health and biodiversity of our planet.
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Noise pollution
Underwater noise can interfere with the key life functions of marine mammals, causing a variety of negative effects such as temporary or permanent hearing loss, behavioural and physiological changes, masking their ability to detect sound, injury, and even death. Very loud sounds can be fatal to marine mammals, as sound is one of their main tools for survival in the ocean. A foreign sound can disrupt the natural behaviour of marine mammals, causing them to move away from the noise, adjust their activities to avoid noisy times, or increase their anti-predatory behaviour.
While there are currently no international standards for regulating ocean noise pollution, local governments and individual ports have established their own regulations. For example, the Port of Vancouver offers discounts to vessels that voluntarily comply with their environmental guidelines, and the European Union has set mandatory thresholds for underwater noise to protect species and habitats.
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Chemical pollution
Another source of chemical pollution is the use of cleaning, washing, and polishing products in our homes. These products often contain chemicals that are harmful to wildlife and marine environments, such as sodium hypochlorite, petroleum distillates, and ammonia. When these products are washed down the drain, they can contaminate natural water sources.
The use of fertilizer on farms can also contribute to chemical pollution in the ocean. Excess chemical fertilizer can make its way into the ocean, leading to nutrient pollution. This increase in chemicals, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, can promote the growth of algal blooms, which can be toxic to wildlife and harmful to humans.
In addition to these sources, medicines that humans and animals take can also contain chemicals that make their way into the sea. While these chemicals are tolerable in small doses for humans, they can build up in aquatic environments and cause fertility problems in fish.
The effects of chemical pollution on marine life can be devastating. As chemicals build up in the marine food chain, they can reach toxic levels. This can lead to health issues and even death for marine organisms, as seen in the Minimata Bay incident in Japan. Additionally, chemical pollution can impair the fertility and immune systems of marine mammals, such as whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
To combat chemical pollution, individuals can make small changes, such as choosing organic fertilizers and using cleaning products with natural soluble or biodegradable ingredients. Governments and industries also have a responsibility to regulate and reduce the release of harmful chemicals into the environment.
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Agricultural run-off
Agriculture relies on fertilizers, pesticides, and animal manure to enhance crop growth and protect against pests. However, these substances can contaminate water sources when not managed properly. Fertilizers, for instance, typically contain nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium. While these nutrients are essential for crops, they can have detrimental effects when they enter water bodies. Increased levels of nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizer and manure can stimulate algal blooms, leading to hypoxic (low oxygen) conditions that are harmful to aquatic life.
Pesticides are another concern. About half a million tons of pesticides are applied to crops annually in the continental United States. When these chemicals enter water systems through runoff, they pose risks to aquatic life, fish-eating wildlife, and drinking water supplies.
Animal waste from livestock farming is a significant contributor to agricultural runoff. Manure contains high levels of nutrients, pathogens, and organic matter, which can contaminate water bodies during rainfall or irrigation events. The decomposition of organic matter in manure increases the biological oxygen demand (BOD) in water, degrading water quality. Large-scale concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) often produce waste that exceeds the land's absorption capacity, leading to spills and leaks that contaminate surface and groundwater.
Soil erosion is another critical factor in agricultural runoff. Tilling and poor land management practices disrupt soil structure, making it more susceptible to erosion. When soil is bare, rainfall can easily dislodge soil particles, carrying them away as sediment in runoff. This process not only reduces soil fertility but also contributes to water pollution.
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Sewage outflows
Nitrogen, for example, can fuel harmful algal blooms, which produce toxins that kill marine life, close beaches, and cause human disease through direct exposure or consumption of contaminated seafood. These algal blooms can also deplete oxygen levels, creating 'dead zones' where fish and other marine life cannot survive. Sewage pollution has also been linked to physical and biological damage to coral reefs, seagrasses, and salt marshes, where it can smother habitats, increase local acidification, and raise the risk of disease.
The impacts of sewage pollution on the marine environment are relatively understudied, but research indicates that it poses a significant threat to ocean health. Sewage pollution is a highly concentrated problem, with just 25 watersheds contributing about 46% of wastewater nitrogen and 51% of sewage-borne pathogens in the sea. These watersheds are dispersed across nearly every continent and multiple countries, highlighting the global nature of the issue.
Major coastal cities and urban environments, particularly in low-income countries, are often significant sources of sewage pollution. However, even high-income countries are not immune to this challenge. For instance, utilities in England have been found to discharge raw sewage into rivers, and similar concerns have been raised about transparency and monitoring in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Addressing sewage outflows requires a comprehensive approach that includes improved wastewater treatment, increased transparency and monitoring, and a shift towards a more sustainable and accountable water system that prioritizes environmental protection over profit.
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Frequently asked questions
Sea pollution refers to the contamination of the ocean and other marine waterways by harmful substances and waste materials. This includes plastic pollution, oil and gas exploration, military exercises, shipping traffic, deep-sea mining, sewage outflows, industrial discharge, and agricultural runoff.
Plastic pollution is a significant issue for seas and oceans globally. Plastic waste does not biodegrade like paper or food, so it persists in the environment for hundreds of years. Around 8 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans annually, harming wildlife, damaging ecosystems, and contributing to climate change.
Marine animals may mistake colourful plastics for food or become entangled in plastic waste. Plastic pollution can also make animals very ill, destroy their habitats, and make it challenging for them to find food.
We can reduce plastic pollution by using less plastic, reusing and recycling plastic items, and participating in beach clean-up efforts to prevent plastic from reaching the sea.
In addition to plastic pollution, noise pollution, chemical pollution, and climate change also impact marine life. Noise from human activities such as deep-sea mining can affect the communication and senses of whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
