Bronte Wells
Beaches are cherished natural resources that provide recreational spaces for millions of people. However, beach pollution poses a serious threat to both human and marine health. Pollutants such as litter, sewage, plastic, oil spills, and fertilizer contaminate beaches and coastal areas, leading to health risks and beach closures. The impact of beach pollution is significant, with billions of pounds of trash and pollutants ending up in our oceans each year. This raises the question: what percentage of beaches are polluted, and what can be done to address this pressing issue?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of pollution to the marine environment that comes from the land | 80% |
| Number of beach cleanups conducted by the Ocean Conservancy in 30 years | 236 |
| Total pounds of trash collected by the Ocean Conservancy in 30 years | 300 million |
| Number of countries included in the 2021 beach cleanups | 42 |
| Number of pieces of plastic trash collected in the 2021 beach cleanups | 187,000+ |
| Percentage of plastic waste that is branded pollution in the UK | 65% |
| Number of companies that the branded plastic waste in the UK was traced back to | 12 |
| Number of brands associated with the 12 companies | 80 |
| Percentage of plastic ever produced that has been recycled | 9% |
| Amount of plastic produced annually | 400 million tons |
| Amount of plastic that will be produced annually by 2060 | 1.2 billion tons |
| Amount of plastic that enters the ocean annually | 11 million tons |
| Percentage of plastic debris in the world's ocean surfaces | 40% |
| Year by which plastic is expected to outweigh all the fish in the sea | 2050 |
| Number of seabird species that have eaten plastic | 60% |
| Number of sea turtle species that have ingested plastic | 50% |
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What You'll Learn
Sources of beach pollution
Beach pollution is a pressing issue that poses a threat to the health and safety of humans, wildlife, and aquatic habitats. It also incurs significant economic costs for local and national economies in cleanup efforts, wasted resources, and lost revenues. While there are various sources of beach pollution, here are some of the key contributors:
Nonpoint Source Pollution
Nonpoint source pollution is the most common type of pollution affecting beaches. It occurs when rainfall or snowmelt carries pollutants from the land into the ocean through runoff. This can include oil and other chemicals from roads, farms, septic tanks, vehicles, livestock ranches, and timber harvest areas. Nonpoint source pollution is challenging to address because it originates from numerous small sources that are difficult to pinpoint.
Point Source Pollution
Point source pollution, also known as pollution from a single identifiable source, is less common but can have more significant impacts. Examples include oil spills, chemical spills, and discharges from faulty factories or water treatment systems. Sewage overflows, including combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), are also considered point sources of pollution. These releases contain raw sewage, industrial wastewater, and stormwater, leading to beach closures due to health risks.
Marine Debris and Plastic Pollution
Marine debris, including plastic pollution, is a significant contributor to beach pollution. Plastic litter, such as plastic bags, bottles, and fishing gear, can wash up on beaches or be ingested by marine life, causing entanglement, choking, or internal injuries. The sheer volume of plastic production has overwhelmed waste management systems, leading to plastic escaping into the ocean from various sources, such as littering, industrial discharges, and improper disposal.
Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events
Climate change plays a role in exacerbating beach pollution. More frequent extreme weather events, such as storms and sea level rise, can accelerate beach erosion and increase the amount of pollution that reaches beaches. Higher water levels can also impact the effectiveness of physical structures like seawalls and bulkheads, which are designed to protect beaches from moving inland.
Human Activities
Human activities, both on land and at sea, significantly contribute to beach pollution. For example, people leaving trash behind on beaches and fishermen losing or discarding fishing nets and lines can directly pollute the beach and ocean. Additionally, commercial fishing vessels, cargo ships, and cruise ships have been known to discharge waste and garbage into the ocean, further exacerbating the problem.
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Beach closures due to pollution
The presence of harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the water poses a serious health risk to people who come into contact with it. In 2013, an NRDC report found that beaches in the United States experienced more than 20,000 closings and advisory days in a single year due to pollution and contamination. The report also found that more than 80% of the closings were related to near-shore bacteria levels that violated public health standards. Similarly, in 2001, there were 13,410 beach closures in the US, an 18.6% increase from the previous year. Based on historical data and trends, it is predicted that there will be more than 18,600 beach closures in a year due to unacceptable levels of contaminants.
There are two main pathways through which pollution reaches the water: discrete point sources and diffuse non-point sources. Point sources are single, identifiable inputs of polluted water, such as factories, sewage treatment facilities, farms, or septic tanks, that can often be monitored or controlled. Non-point sources, on the other hand, are caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground and come from many diffuse sources, often having a larger and more destructive impact. For example, stormwater can wash chemicals and other pollutants from streets and lawns into local waterways and eventually down to the beach. Even watering a lawn or washing a car can carry potentially harmful pathogens into the water.
The impact of beach closures extends beyond health concerns. Coastal communities suffer economically as closures deter tourists and hurt local businesses. To address the root causes of water pollution, comprehensive solutions are needed, including enhanced recycling programs and cutting-edge technology for effective water management.
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Health risks of polluted beaches
Polluted beaches pose a serious health risk to people who come into contact with dirty water or sand. In 2013, 10% of all water samples collected from 3,500 coastal and Great Lakes beaches in the United States failed to meet the EPA's most restrictive benchmark for swimmer safety. The EPA estimates that up to 3.5 million people get sick from being in contact with sewage while swimming. Children are particularly vulnerable as they tend to swallow more water.
The primary health risk associated with polluted beach water is the ingestion of harmful bacteria, viruses, protozoa, or parasites. These pathogens can cause a range of illnesses, including gastroenteritis, which can lead to nausea, vomiting, stomachache, diarrhea, headache, or fever. In addition to sewage, stormwater runoff can also carry pollutants such as road dust, oil, animal waste, fertilizers, chemicals, and other toxins into beach waters, further increasing the risk of exposure to harmful microorganisms.
Another health risk associated with polluted beaches is the presence of toxic algal blooms (HABs). These blooms involve the proliferation of microscopic algae that produce neurotoxins, such as domoic acid. Exposure to these neurotoxins through direct contact or the consumption of contaminated seafood can result in serious health issues, including neurological problems. In 2015, a large-scale HAB impacted the U.S. West Coast, affecting wildlife and resulting in closures of recreational and commercial fisheries in California, Oregon, and Washington.
Pollution from marine debris, such as plastic litter and microplastics, is also a significant health risk at beaches. Marine debris can be ingested by marine life, leading to the accumulation of toxins in seafood. Consuming seafood contaminated with heavy metals and other pollutants can be harmful to humans. Furthermore, marine debris can cause physical injuries to beachgoers and impact the natural habitat of marine animals and birds.
While swimming-related illnesses from polluted beach water are usually not serious and have no long-term health effects, they can be unpleasant and require medical attention in some cases. It is important for beachgoers to be aware of water quality advisories and beach closures to minimize the risk of exposure to harmful pollutants.
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Pollution from human activities
Beach pollution is any harmful substance that contaminates coastlines, ranging from plastic, trash, and litter to sewage, pesticides, and oil. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), billions of pounds of pollution end up in our oceans each year, and the majority of it comes from human activities along the coastlines and inland.
Nonpoint source pollution, which occurs as a result of runoff, is one of the biggest sources of pollution. This type of pollution includes many small sources, like septic tanks, cars, trucks, boats, and larger sources such as farms, ranches, and forest areas. For example, millions of motor vehicle engines drop small amounts of oil each day onto roads and parking lots, which eventually make their way to the sea. Some water pollution starts as air pollution, which settles into waterways and oceans. Dirt can also be a pollutant, with topsoil or silt from fields or construction sites running off into waterways and harming fish and wildlife habitats.
Point source pollution, which comes from a single source, is less common but often has a large impact. Examples include oil or chemical spills, and discharge from faulty or damaged factories or water treatment systems. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are human-created chemicals known for their resistance to biodegradation and have been found in ground, surface, and drinking water.
Accidental or intentional discharges from vessels are another source of pollution that can affect beaches. These include trash, fishing gear, ballast water, bilge water, and water from sinks and showers. Any trash that is not recycled or properly thrown away can eventually reach beaches when carried by rain into storm drains, streams, and rivers, eventually flowing into the ocean and washing up on beaches.
Human overuse of beaches can also gradually degrade them as habitats for animals and plants. Beach dunes are important natural features that protect inland areas from flooding and storms and provide a unique habitat for many plant and animal species. People walking on the dunes can destroy the plants, allowing sand to blow away. Waves from boats operating close to the shoreline can also contribute to beach erosion.
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Efforts to combat beach pollution
While I cannot provide a precise percentage of beaches that are polluted, sources suggest that beach pollution is a pressing issue. It poses a serious health risk to people who come in contact with dirty water or sand.
Legislation and Policy Change:
- The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2021 is a federal bill introduced in the United States to address the plastic pollution crisis.
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation aims to make plastic producers and distributors responsible for their products and packaging at the end of their life cycle.
- A global plastics treaty has been signed by 175 United Nations member states to implement rules and regulations to reduce plastic pollution.
- Local governments in the San Diego area have taken legal action to stop sewage from spilling into the country from Mexico.
Public Awareness and Education:
- The Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring System, developed by NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, provides information to the public and local authorities to decide on temporary beach closures to protect public health.
- Local chapters of the BWTF program work to raise awareness about pollution problems and provide communities with critical public health information.
- The TDS Waste Wizard App educates users on proper waste disposal methods.
Pollution Prevention and Cleanups:
- Individuals can reduce their use of single-use plastics and dispose of trash securely or take it home when visiting beaches and parks.
- Organizations like the Oceanic Society encourage beach cleanups to remove plastics and prevent them from entering oceans in the first place.
- Multistate and international partnerships, along with congressional funding, have helped improve the water quality of Lake Erie.
Infrastructure Improvements:
- Addressing outdated wastewater infrastructure and improving the management of stormwater runoff can prevent pollution from reaching beaches.
- Fixing faulty treatment plants and implementing better waste management practices can reduce the discharge of untreated water and sewage into natural water bodies.
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Frequently asked questions
According to the NRDC's 2014 report, 10% of US beaches failed to meet water quality standards for safe swimming. A more recent report from 2022 found that 328 beaches were potentially unsafe for swimming on at least a quarter of the days tested.
Beach pollution is primarily caused by litter, sewage, plastic, and other pollutants. These pollutants often come from human activities along coastlines and inland. Nonpoint source pollution, caused by runoff from sources like septic tanks, vehicles, farms, and livestock ranches, is a significant contributor.
Polluted beach water can contain harmful bacteria, viruses, and chemicals that can make swimmers sick. Children are especially vulnerable as they tend to swallow more water. Pollutants can also accumulate in seafood, making it unsafe for human consumption.
Marine debris, including microplastics, can be ingested by marine animals, posing a serious threat to their health and leading to ecological imbalances. Marine animals can also get entangled in derelict fishing gear and abandoned vessels.
Reducing beach pollution requires a multi-faceted approach. Upgrading wastewater infrastructure, improving sewage treatment processes, and promoting responsible waste disposal practices are crucial steps. Organizations like the NRDC and local chapters of BWTF programs work to raise awareness, provide public health information, and address pollution sources to restore clean water.
