Bronte Wells
Marine pollution is a pressing issue, encompassing a range of pollutants that enter the ocean and harm marine ecosystems and wildlife. One of the key pollutants of concern is mercury, which enters the marine food chain and accumulates in the tissue of predatory fish and marine mammals, posing risks to human health. Other pollutants include microplastics, toxic metals, pesticides, and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which are man-made chemicals that accumulate in food chains. These pollutants have various sources, including industrial activities, agricultural runoff, oil spills, and plastic waste, all of which contribute to the degradation of marine environments and the organisms within them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Pollutant | Mercury, Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), Microplastics, Nutrients, Toxins, Noise, Plastic, Marine Debris, Eutrophication, Oil Spills, Radioactive Toxins, Pesticides, PFAS |
| Sources | Coal-burning power plants, chlorine production plants, industrial and agrichemicals, natural debris, plastic packaging, fertilizer runoff, oil spills, nuclear disasters, pesticides, phenols, heavy metals |
| Impact | Bioaccumulation in marine life and humans, health problems, tissue damage, behavioural changes, growth suppression, reduced biodiversity, environmental damage, economic damage |
| Solutions | Pollution-control devices, reduction in plastic use, prevention and cleanup of marine debris, improved waste management, regulation and litigation |
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What You'll Learn
Mercury from coal-burning power plants
Mercury is a highly toxic metal that is dangerous to both natural ecosystems and humans, especially due to its neurotoxic ability to damage the central nervous system. Mercury from coal-burning power plants is a major source of mercury pollution in the marine food chain. Coal contains mercury as a natural contaminant, and when it is burned for electricity generation, the mercury is released into the atmosphere.
The combustion of coal, especially lignite coal, which has higher levels of mercury, is a significant source of mercury emissions from power plants. Mercury is released into the atmosphere, where it contaminates lands, oceans, and streams. Once in the water, microorganisms convert mercury into methylmercury, which enters the food chain and is stored in the tissue of aquatic organisms.
Methylmercury is a highly toxic form of mercury that accumulates in the tissue of fish and other marine organisms. Older, larger, and predatory fish tend to have higher concentrations of mercury due to bioaccumulation and biomagnification. Species such as marlin, tuna, shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish contain higher levels of mercury. Cetaceans, including whales and dolphins, also bioaccumulate mercury, which can affect populations that consume whale meat.
The consumption of contaminated fish is the most significant source of mercury exposure for humans. People living near coal-burning power plants, including Indigenous communities, are at a higher risk of mercury exposure. National surveys in the United States have found that individuals who consume self-caught fish regularly are exposed to dangerous levels of mercury, with low-income respondents being particularly vulnerable.
While the EPA's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) have helped reduce mercury emissions, stronger regulations and enforcement are needed to protect public health, especially for vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant or nursing women. Relatively inexpensive technologies, such as activated carbon injection, can help reduce mercury emissions from power plants.
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Microplastics in marine food webs
Marine pollution is a combination of chemicals and trash, with 80% of the latter coming from land sources. Plastic is a major component of this trash, and it eventually breaks down into microplastics—small particles less than five millimetres in diameter. These microplastics have become pervasive in marine environments, threatening ecosystems and human health.
Microplastics have been detected in a range of marine species, from plankton to whales, and can be transmitted through the marine food web. They are ingested by small organisms, which are then eaten by larger animals, causing the toxic chemicals to become part of their tissues. This process is known as bioaccumulation, and it can lead to microplastics accumulating in the human body. The health implications of this are not yet fully understood, but studies have linked microplastics to inflammation, genotoxicity, and endocrine disruption.
The impact of microplastics on marine life is significant. They can cause physical entanglement, limiting movement and obstructing feeding, and result in injury or even death. Microplastics can also act as chemical transporters, absorbing pollutants from the environment and releasing them into the tissues of organisms. This can have unpredictable ramifications for aquatic life and the ecosystem as a whole.
The highest concentrations of microplastics are associated with oligotrophic subtropical gyres and biologically productive semi-enclosed seas and coastal waters. They are also commonly found in China's largest fishing ground, with fibres and transparent microplastics being the most frequently detected types.
Addressing the issue of microplastics in marine food webs requires a comprehensive approach. Public awareness and education are critical for reducing microplastic waste output and encouraging sustainable alternatives. International collaboration is also essential for establishing global standards and promoting technological developments to eliminate microplastics from aquatic ecosystems.
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Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in marine mammals
Marine mammals are particularly susceptible to accumulating high concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) due to their high fat content and position at the top of the marine food chain. POPs are man-made chemicals that persist in the environment and accumulate in food chains, causing health issues for top predators, including humans. Marine mammals, such as cetaceans and pinnipeds, are vulnerable to both bioaccumulation and biomagnification of POPs, resulting in toxicological, immunological, neurological, and reproductive complications.
The presence of POPs in marine mammals is influenced by various factors, including habitat, feeding strategy, age, sex, and physiology. For instance, the California sea lion, an apex predator, was found to have significantly higher POP concentrations than herbivorous species like the manatee. Additionally, the consumption of traditional foods, including marine mammals, by indigenous peoples in coastal areas can lead to human health risks associated with POP exposure.
Monitoring of marine mammals provides valuable insights into global trends in POPs concentrations. These trends are shaped by climate change, industrial and agrichemical usage patterns, and declining ocean biodiversity. While there is a general decline in POPs concentrations in marine mammals, it is unclear if this is due to reduced pollutant levels or dietary changes resulting from global transformations. Climate change, for instance, can alter food sources, trophic structures, and migratory patterns, thereby influencing the biomagnification and accumulation of POPs.
To address the issue of POPs in marine mammals, the Stockholm Convention identified 12 POPs ("the Dirty Dozen") for global elimination, and 185 countries ratified this agreement. Subsequently, nine additional classes of POPs ("the Nasty Nine") were also targeted for elimination. However, some countries are exempt from these controls, and POPs continue to be detected in the environment and biota, including marine mammals.
The accumulation of POPs in marine mammals has become a pressing concern, with studies showing significant concentrations in the blubber of finless porpoises from Korean coastal waters. The highest levels were found for DDTs, followed by PCBs and PBDEs. These findings highlight the ongoing presence and impact of POPs in marine ecosystems, underscoring the need for effective removal methods and the reduction of anthropogenic chemical releases into the environment.
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Fertilizer runoff and eutrophication
Fertilizers are a major source of nutrient pollution, which occurs when excess nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus, enter bodies of water. This can happen when fertilizers are applied to fields and farms, and during rain or snowmelt, the excess nutrients are washed away into nearby waterways. This process is known as fertilizer runoff, and it can have significant ecological impacts.
Fertilizer runoff contributes to eutrophication, which is the excessive nutrient enrichment of water bodies. Eutrophication can have several detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems. For instance, it can cause an increase in algae growth, known as algal blooms. Algal blooms can produce toxins that are harmful to both wildlife and humans, and they can also block light necessary for the growth of other aquatic plants, such as seagrasses. As a result, eutrophication can lead to a decrease in biodiversity, with certain species dominating at the expense of others.
The proliferation of algae due to eutrophication can lead to the development of thick mats on the surfaces of streams, ponds, and lakes. These mats can give off an unpleasant odor and cause the water to change color, affecting the aesthetic value of water bodies. Additionally, the decay of algae and seagrasses during the eutrophication process consumes oxygen, leading to hypoxic or "dead zones" in the water. These zones can result in fish kills and a further decline in aquatic life.
Farmers can play a crucial role in mitigating fertilizer runoff and eutrophication. This can be achieved through improved nutrient management practices, such as applying the right amount of fertilizer at the appropriate time of year and using the correct method and placement. Implementing conservation tillage practices, such as reducing the frequency and intensity of tilling, can also help improve soil health and reduce erosion and runoff. Ensuring year-round ground cover by planting cover crops or perennial species can prevent periods of bare ground that are more susceptible to erosion and nutrient loss.
By adopting these practices and engaging in watershed efforts, farmers can help reduce the impact of fertilizer runoff on aquatic ecosystems and contribute to the preservation of water quality and biodiversity. Additionally, on an individual level, people can take measures to prevent fertilizer runoff by keeping fertilizers away from water sources and using mulch to hold soil moisture and fertilizer in place during rainfall.
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Radioactive toxins from nuclear disasters
The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan was damaged during the Great Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, resulting in the release of radioactive water and isotopes into the Pacific Ocean. This included the radionuclides cesium 134Cs and 137Cs, which were detected in migratory fish species such as Pacific bluefin tuna and albacore tuna that crossed the North Pacific to the West Coast of North America. Studies have shown that radioactive material from nuclear disasters can travel with ocean currents, deposit in marine sediments, and climb the marine food web.
The impact of radioactive contamination on marine life and humans is still not fully understood. However, it is known that ionizing radiation from radioactive materials can damage living cells by changing the state of atoms in genetic material, causing mutations to DNA and tissue damage. This poses significant health risks to humans and marine organisms. Radioactive caesium and plutonium have been found in seals and porpoises in the Irish Sea, which consumed contaminated fish.
Radioactive waste has also been released into the Irish Sea by a British nuclear fuels plant, and into the English Channel by a French nuclear reprocessing plant. For decades, the Soviets dumped large quantities of radioactive material into the Arctic Ocean, Kara Sea, and Barents Sea, including reactors from nuclear-powered submarines and solid nuclear waste from military bases. These incidents have contributed to the global issue of radioactive contamination in the marine environment.
The dilution capacity of the ocean helps to reduce the concentration of radioactive materials over time. However, it can take anywhere from two weeks to hundreds of thousands of years for radioactivity levels to reach a safe level. The long-term effects of radioactive toxins on marine environments are still being studied, and the full extent of their impact remains uncertain.
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Frequently asked questions
Marine food chains are contaminated by a variety of pollutants, including toxic metals, pesticides, microplastics, and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Mercury is a toxic metal that is released into the ocean as a result of coal-burning and chlorine production. It is absorbed by algae and accumulates in the tissue of marine organisms, with predators at the top of the food chain containing the highest concentrations. Microplastics are another pollutant that contaminates marine food chains. These small plastic particles are often consumed by marine organisms and can lead to the transfer of toxic chemicals up the food chain.
Mercury enters marine food chains through a process of bioaccumulation. It is initially released into the ocean through industrial activities, such as coal-burning and chlorine production. Algae absorb mercury, and are then consumed by small organisms, which are eaten by larger predators, resulting in a buildup of mercury in the tissue of marine organisms. Microplastics enter marine food chains when they are ingested by marine organisms, including plankton and whales. The toxic chemicals from the microplastics are then absorbed into the tissues of these organisms and transferred up the food chain.
Pollutants in marine food chains pose significant health risks to both marine organisms and humans. Mercury, for example, is a highly toxic metal that can damage the central nervous system. It can lead to mercury poisoning in humans, especially in pregnant or nursing women and young children. Microplastics can also have harmful effects on human health, although the full extent of these impacts is still being studied. In marine organisms, pollutants can cause mutations, diseases, and suppressed growth. They can also interfere with reproduction, behaviour, and tissue matter.
