Meghan Hodges
Ocean pollution has been a problem since ancient times, when the Greeks and Romans dumped waste and sewage into the Mediterranean Sea. However, the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries marked a significant increase in pollution levels, as industrial waste began to contaminate nearby waterways, eventually making its way into the ocean. The 20th century saw a further surge in ocean pollution, with the National Academy of Sciences finding in 1968 that over 100 million tons of waste had entered our oceans. Today, plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues, with an estimated 8 million tons of plastic waste entering the ocean annually and causing devastating effects on marine life and ecosystems. While there have been legislative attempts to address ocean pollution, such as the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, and growing awareness of sustainable practices, the problem persists and continues to threaten the health of our planet and all its inhabitants.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| History of ocean pollution | The ocean has long been viewed as a vast, seemingly limitless expanse of water. However, the reality of the ocean today is much different from this romanticized image. |
| Earliest recorded instance of ocean pollution | The Greeks and Romans would dump waste and sewage into the Mediterranean Sea. |
| Ocean pollution reaches alarming levels | During the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, industrial waste began to pour into nearby waterways, ultimately making its way into the ocean. |
| Unprecedented increase in ocean pollution | The 20th century saw a rise in the world's population and industrial output, leading to an increase in ocean pollution. |
| Significant event in the history of ocean pollution | In 1969, an oil platform off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, experienced a blowout, resulting in 3 million gallons of crude oil spilling into the ocean. |
| Legislative attempts to de-pollute the ocean | The U.S. Congress passed the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act. The Society of the Plastics Industry developed the plastic resin identification code to facilitate recycling and disposal. |
| Plastic waste in the ocean | An estimated 8 million tons of plastic waste enter the ocean each year, with plastic pollution contaminating the surface and deep sea of every ocean. |
| Impact of plastic pollution on marine life | Marine animals mistake plastic for food, leading to ingestion, suffocation, and serious health problems. |
| Global efforts to address plastic pollution | 175 countries adopted a resolution at the UN Environment Assembly to negotiate a legally binding instrument to address plastic pollution. |
| Plastic production and consumption | Humans produce over 400 million metric tons of plastic annually, with a projected increase in production. |
| Plastic waste management | Only 9% of plastic is recycled globally, and about 22% of plastic waste is not collected, improperly disposed of, or becomes litter. |
| Impact on human health and economies | Plastic pollution causes damage to human health and economies, with microplastics and single-use plastics posing severe threats. |
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What You'll Learn
Ocean pollution in ancient times
Ocean pollution has been a problem since the earliest human civilizations. In ancient times, the Greeks and Romans would dump waste and sewage into the Mediterranean Sea. However, the scale of ocean pollution remained relatively small until the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, when industrial waste began to pour into nearby waterways, ultimately making its way into the ocean.
During the Middle Ages, diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever broke out across Europe due to unsanitary conditions caused by human and animal waste. In 1347, the bacterium Yersinia pestis, carried by rats and spread by fleas, caused the "Black Death," an outbreak of bubonic plague that was exacerbated by the unsanitary conditions of the time.
In the 19th century, episodes of "smog" (a combination of smoke and fog) in cities like New York and London resulted in numerous deaths. Air pollution continued to be a significant issue through the middle of the 20th century. In October 1948, severe air pollution over Donora, Pennsylvania, asphyxiated 20 people and seriously affected the health of over 7,000 more.
The 20th century saw an unprecedented increase in ocean pollution as the world's population and industrial output rose. In 1968, the National Academy of Sciences found that more than 100 million tons of waste had entered the oceans, with industrial and chemical waste being the primary contributors. One of the most significant events in the history of ocean pollution occurred in 1969 when an oil platform off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, experienced a blowout, resulting in 3 million gallons of crude oil spilling into the ocean. This incident shocked the nation and led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, awareness of ocean pollution continued to grow, with a number of high-profile incidents bringing the issue to the forefront of public consciousness. During this time, there was a significant rise in plastic production, leading to increased plastic pollution in the oceans. Scientists made disturbing discoveries, such as seabirds ingesting plastic and seals becoming trapped in plastic netting. These findings spurred legislative attempts to de-pollute the oceans and remove plastic from waterways.
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The Industrial Revolution
During the Industrial Revolution, cities across Europe and the United States became increasingly populated. This urbanization, coupled with industrialization, resulted in a new form of pollution: waste from industries and factories. Rivers, such as the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio, became so contaminated with industrial waste that they even caught fire on several occasions between 1936 and 1969. The 1897 report to the Royal Commission on River Pollution detailed the severe industrial contamination of the Tawe River in Wales, polluted by "alkali works, copper works, sulfuric acid liquid, sulfate of iron from tin-plate works, and by slag, cinders, and small coal."
In the United States, industrial chemicals and wastes contaminated waters in the Northeast. Chicago built one of the first sewage systems in the country to treat wastewater, but water and air pollution in U.S. urban areas continued to worsen well into the 20th century. The Industrial Revolution's impact on ocean pollution extended beyond just rivers and waterways. The mass production of goods also contributed to ocean pollution, as factories poured waste into nearby waters, which eventually flowed into the ocean.
The 20th century witnessed an unprecedented surge in ocean pollution, coinciding with the continuous rise in the global population and industrial output. In 1968, the National Academy of Sciences revealed that over 100 million tons of waste had entered the oceans, excluding plastic pollution, which was not yet a widespread issue. One of the most notable incidents during this period was the 1969 oil platform blowout off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, which resulted in 3 million gallons of crude oil spilling into the ocean. This incident sparked widespread concern and led to the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States.
The latter half of the 20th century saw a growing awareness of ocean pollution, with several high-profile incidents bringing the issue to the forefront. While legislative attempts, such as the U.S. Congress passing the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, were made to address ocean pollution, the realization of the persistence and impact of plastic pollution in the 1970s and 1980s further emphasized the urgency of the situation.
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Oil spills
One of the earliest recorded instances of ocean pollution dates back to ancient times when the Greeks and Romans dumped waste and sewage into the Mediterranean Sea. However, ocean pollution began to reach alarming levels during the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, with industrial waste pouring into nearby waterways and eventually making its way into the ocean.
The 20th century saw an unprecedented increase in ocean pollution, driven by a rising world population and industrial output. A significant event in the history of ocean pollution occurred in 1969 when an oil platform off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, experienced a blowout, resulting in 3 million gallons of crude oil spilling into the ocean. This incident shocked the nation and led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, awareness of ocean pollution continued to grow, with several high-profile oil spills bringing the issue into the public eye. In 1976, the tanker Argo Merchant ran aground near Nantucket Shoals in Massachusetts, spilling 7.7 million gallons of heavy fuel oil. In 1978, the Amoco Cadiz spilled more than 130,000 tonnes of oil off the coast of France's Brittany coast, contaminating an area of around 360 square kilometres.
One of the most widely publicized oil spills occurred in 1989 when the Exxon Valdez released 11 million gallons of crude oil into Alaska's Prince William Sound. This was one of the biggest human-caused environmental disasters in history.
More recently, in 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico became the largest marine oil spill in U.S. history, releasing millions of barrels of oil and causing devastating damage to fish, wildlife, and habitats.
While there have been legislative attempts to address ocean pollution and reduce plastic waste, the past few decades have also seen an increase in plastic production and consumption, with plastic pollution becoming one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time.
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Plastic pollution
The history of plastic pollution began in the middle of ocean basins, thousands of kilometres from land, in the central gyres. The first scientific findings of marine plastic debris were published in the journal Science in 1972, reporting on small plastic particles found in the Sargasso Sea. However, it is believed that ocean dumping has been practised for much longer, with the Greeks and Romans dumping waste and sewage into the Mediterranean Sea in ancient times.
The Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries saw ocean pollution reach alarming levels, with industrial waste pouring into nearby waterways and eventually making its way into the ocean. By the 20th century, ocean pollution had increased significantly due to rising populations and industrial output. In 1968, the National Academy of Sciences found that more than 100 million tons of waste had entered the oceans, excluding plastic pollution, which had only recently become a mainstream material.
In the early 2000s, the amount of plastic waste generated rose more in a single decade than it had in the previous 40 years. Today, plastic pollution is recognised as a global crisis, with all five of the Earth's major ocean gyres inundated with plastic. The largest accumulation of plastic is in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located in the North Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and California.
Despite the magnitude of the problem, there is reason for hope. The past few decades have seen significant progress in reducing pollution levels, with stricter regulations, sustainable practices, and initiatives to clean up our oceans. However, addressing plastic pollution requires a collective effort from individuals, businesses, and governments to reduce plastic consumption, improve waste management, and support organisations working towards a cleaner ocean.
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Global efforts to reduce pollution
The history of ocean pollution can be traced back to ancient times when the Greeks and Romans dumped waste and sewage into the Mediterranean Sea. However, ocean pollution reached alarming levels during the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries due to industrial waste. The 20th century saw a significant increase in ocean pollution, with the National Academy of Sciences reporting in 1968 that over 100 million tons of waste had entered our oceans.
In response to the growing crisis of ocean pollution, there have been global efforts to reduce and address this issue. Here are some key actions and initiatives:
- Legislative Actions: Countries have implemented stricter regulations and standards for industrial and shipping practices. For example, the U.S. Congress passed the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act following the discovery of high levels of ocean waste. The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2021 in the United States aims to address the plastic pollution crisis.
- Recycling and Waste Management: Recycling plays a crucial role in keeping plastics out of the ocean. However, currently, only 9% of plastic is recycled globally. Initiatives like The Ocean Cleanup are developing technologies and conducting cleanups to remove plastic pollution from oceans and rivers, aiming to remove 90% by 2040.
- Sustainable Practices: There is a growing movement towards sustainable practices, such as reducing plastic waste and choosing sustainable seafood. Individuals are encouraged to properly dispose of trash, reduce single-use plastic consumption, and participate in beach or waterway cleanups.
- International Collaboration: Hundreds of organizations and businesses have worked with United Nations member states to enact a global plastics treaty. This collaboration recognizes the importance of addressing plastic pollution on an international scale.
- Corporate Responsibility: Efforts are being made to hold plastic producers and distributors accountable for their products and packaging. Initiatives like extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation aim to ensure proper waste management and reduce plastic production.
- Grassroots Resistance: Organizations like the Center for Biological Diversity are challenging permits for new ethane cracker plants and organizing grassroots resistance to stop the expansion of the plastic industry.
These global efforts provide a glimpse of the diverse strategies employed to combat ocean pollution. While significant progress has been made, the crisis persists, and continued dedication is necessary to protect our oceans and marine life.
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Frequently asked questions
The Greeks and Romans dumped waste and sewage into the Mediterranean Sea in ancient times.
Ocean pollution began to reach alarming levels during the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries. With factories and mass production, industrial waste poured into waterways and ultimately the ocean.
In 1968, the National Academy of Sciences found that more than 100 million tons of waste had entered our oceans. In 1969, an oil platform off the coast of California spilled 3 million gallons of crude oil into the ocean, leading to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States. In the 1980s, concerns shifted from oil spills to plastic waste, which has become one of the most pressing environmental issues. By the 2010s, plastic pollution was known to contaminate all ocean basins, ecosystems, habitats, and food webs. Media attention and research on plastic pollution have elevated the issue to the global stage, with a growing policy movement spanning multiple levels of government.
