Bronte Wells
Our oceans, which cover over 70% of the Earth's surface, are being polluted by a variety of human activities. Marine debris, such as plastic bags, bottles, fishing gear, and microplastics, poses a significant threat to marine life and ecosystems. Oil spills and leaks, agricultural runoff, and even air pollution contribute to the degradation of ocean health. With each load of laundry, thousands of plastic microfibers are released into our waterways, and the constant noise from shipping and military activity causes cellular damage to invertebrates like jellyfish and anemones. The impact of ocean pollution is far-reaching, affecting not only marine life but also human health and economies that depend on the oceans. Addressing this issue requires collective efforts at the local, national, and international levels.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic | Plastic debris, including single-use plastic bags, water bottles, drinking straws, yogurt containers, bottle caps, food wrappers, and fishing gear, is the most prevalent ocean pollutant. |
| Oil | Oil spills from tankers, offshore drilling, and other sources account for 12% of the oil in our oceans, while the rest comes from runoff from roads, rivers, and drainpipes. |
| Noise | Noise pollution from shipping and military activity can cause cellular damage to invertebrates like jellyfish and anemones, which are a food source for many marine creatures. |
| Carbon emissions | Greenhouse emissions contribute to ocean acidification, making it harder for bivalves like mussels, clams, and oysters to form shells. |
| Dirt | Dirt, including topsoil and silt from fields or construction sites, can run off into waterways, harming fish and wildlife habitats. |
| Chemical runoff | Agricultural nutrients like nitrogen, when dumped into the sea in large amounts, can cause harmful algae blooms and subsequent mass die-offs of marine life. |
| Fertilizer | Fertilizer from yards and farms can wash into the ocean, contributing to pollution. |
| Glass | Glass beverage bottles can harm marine life by disrupting organisms and entering the food chain. |
| Metal | Metal beverage cans found in the ocean can injure animals with their serrated edges. |
| Cigarette butts | Cigarette butts are one of the top items found during ocean clean-up efforts and contribute to marine pollution. |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic pollution
Marine debris, of which plastic makes up 80%, originates from a variety of sources. Most of it comes from land-based sources, such as littering, poor waste management, storm water discharge, and extreme natural events like hurricanes and tsunamis. The remaining 20% comes from ocean-based sources, such as discarded fishing gear and discharges from ships.
In addition to the direct harm caused by ingesting and entangling marine life, plastic pollution also contributes to the accumulation and transportation of other pollutants. Persistent organic pollutants adhere to the surface of plastic debris, allowing them to be transported through ocean currents. Research has shown that marine life that ingests plastics coated with these pollutants can absorb them into their bodies. This has led to plastic debris polluting the human food chain, with fish ingesting plastic fragments.
Addressing plastic pollution requires a combination of individual, local, national, and international efforts. Individuals can play a role by reducing their plastic consumption, participating in cleanup efforts, and advocating for better waste management practices. Local and national governments can implement policies and plans to control and reduce plastic pollution, such as the Save Our Seas Act of 2018, which promotes international action, cleanup efforts, and coordination among federal agencies. Internationally, organizations like the NRDC have advocated for policies that protect marine species and ecosystems, such as halting offshore drilling and promoting sustainable seafood practices.
Human Impact: Watershed Pollution Sources
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Oil spills
Fouling or oiling occurs when oil physically harms a plant or animal. Oil can coat a bird's wings and leave it unable to fly or strip away the insulating properties of a sea otter's fur, putting it at risk of hypothermia. The degree of oiling often impacts the animal's chances of survival.
Oil toxicity refers to the toxic compounds found in oil, which can cause severe health problems such as heart damage, stunted growth, immune system issues, and even death. Oil spills can also have a significant impact on plant life. Saltwater marshes and mangroves are two examples of shore ecosystems that frequently suffer from oil spills.
Large oil spills tend to happen when pipelines break, big oil tanker ships sink, or drilling operations go wrong. Even with advanced cleanup efforts, only a fraction of the oil may be removed, and sometimes hazardous technologies are employed, causing further pollution.
Some of the largest oil spills in recent history include the 1989 Exxon Valdez tanker spill in Alaska's Prince William Sound, and the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
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Air pollution
One of the key ways air pollution affects the ocean is through the deposition of excess nitrogen. Nitrogen is a naturally occurring element essential for the growth of all living organisms. However, in aquatic systems, too much nitrogen can stimulate excessive growth of plants and algae. When this excess biomass dies and decomposes, it depletes oxygen levels in the water, creating "dead zones" where marine life cannot survive. This process, known as eutrophication, has been the focus of research projects like "Deposition of Atmospheric Nitrogen to Coastal Ecosystems" (DANCE), which aim to understand how atmospheric nitrogen loadings from storms and precipitation impact coastal waters.
Another way air pollution contributes to ocean pollution is through the emission of carbon and other greenhouse gases. The oceans, covering over 70% of the Earth's surface, act as a massive carbon sink, absorbing more than 90% of the heat trapped by greenhouse gases. This has helped to mitigate the impacts of climate change, but it is also taking a toll on the health of the oceans. Warmer ocean temperatures, for example, contribute to coral bleaching, and the increased energy in the ocean's waters is leading to declining oxygen levels, making it harder for marine life to breathe.
Additionally, air pollution from land-based sources, such as farms, septic tanks, vehicles, and industrial facilities, can result in nonpoint source pollution of waterways and, ultimately, the ocean. This type of pollution occurs when pollutants are carried by rainfall or irrigation runoff into nearby water sources. Dirt, silt, and chemicals from these sources can contaminate rivers and coastal waters, making them unsafe for humans and wildlife. In some cases, nonpoint source pollution has led to beach closures and adversely affected shellfish-growing waters.
The impact of air pollution on the oceans is not limited to atmospheric deposition and climate change. Particulate matter and pollutants emitted into the air can eventually settle into oceans and other water bodies, contributing to marine pollution. Furthermore, human activities along coastlines, such as tourism and industrial operations, can introduce pollutants directly into the ocean, exacerbating the problem. Addressing air pollution and its impact on the oceans requires collective efforts, from individual lifestyle choices to local, national, and international initiatives aimed at reducing emissions and protecting marine environments.
Noise Pollution: A Silent Killer?
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Noise pollution
Sound is an essential means of communication and survival for marine animals, especially marine mammals such as whales, dolphins, and porpoises. They rely on sound to communicate, locate mates and prey, navigate their environment, and avoid predators. Unfortunately, the rising levels of human-made noise in the oceans are disrupting these vital activities.
The impact of noise pollution on marine life is profound and wide-ranging. It can cause immediate damage, such as hearing loss, and even lead to death. For example, loud noises from naval sonar equipment have been known to panic whales and dolphins, causing them to surface too quickly and suffer from decompression sickness. Additionally, noise pollution interferes with the detection of acoustic signals produced by marine wildlife, masking their calls and reducing their communication range. This disruption can lead to changes in behaviour, metabolism, and population dynamics, ultimately affecting the health and functioning of marine ecosystems.
Some specific examples of how noise pollution impacts marine species include the alteration of feeding behaviour in endangered blue whales and changes in vocalizations among bottlenose dolphins, making it harder for them to effectively communicate and locate each other. The complex and interconnected nature of ocean ecosystems means that the effects of noise pollution on one species can have indirect consequences for others. For instance, if a whale strands on a beach due to noise pollution, seafloor-dwelling animals that rely on the whale's body as a food source are negatively impacted.
To address this growing problem, organizations like the NOAA Fisheries' Ocean Acoustics Program are conducting research to better understand the impacts of human-made noise on marine life. This knowledge will be crucial in developing policies and technologies to reduce noise pollution and improve the ocean soundscape, giving marine wildlife a chance to recover and thrive.
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Fertilizer and chemical runoff
Human activities such as agriculture and sewage treatment pollute the watersheds, as the chemicals used in these processes are carried off the land and into streams and rivers as runoff. This toxic chemical runoff results in the widespread phenomenon of "dead zones" in the oceans. Dead zones are areas where oxygen levels are so low that marine life struggles to survive.
Fertilizers are a major contributor to this problem. When rainfall, irrigation, or snowmelt cause more water to enter the soil than it can absorb, the excess water runs off the land and into nearby bodies of water, carrying contaminants from fertilizers and pesticides. Nitrogen fertilizers, in particular, can create high concentrations of nitrates in water sources. While nitrates are not inherently toxic to animals, they can cause nitrate poisoning when found in high concentrations.
The excess nutrients from fertilizers stimulate the growth and reproduction of microorganisms, reducing the dissolved oxygen in marine ecosystems. This leads to a condition known as hypoxia, where fish and other aquatic species suffocate due to the lack of oxygen. The growth of algae is also favoured by these nutrients. However, the blooming algae release harmful toxins, which, in high concentrations, can easily poison many types of marine life.
The proliferation of dead zones is linked to cultural eutrophication, a process that occurs when human activity alters the nutrient levels in water basins. This can be influenced by factors such as the use of corn kernels as a source of ethanol fuel, as well as meat consumption, which requires a significant amount of corn as livestock feed. Additionally, the application of fertilizer in excessive amounts or at the wrong time, location, or form can contribute to overfertilization and exacerbate the problem.
To address this issue, individuals can make small changes, such as reducing their meat consumption or choosing vegan alternatives, which would decrease the demand for livestock feed and, consequently, reduce fertilizer usage. Additionally, local and national governments should implement regulations to protect marine life and mitigate the damaging effects of fertilizers on our oceans.
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Frequently asked questions
The majority of the garbage that enters the ocean each year is plastic, including beverage bottles, bottle caps, plastic bags, fishing gear, and food wrappers. Plastic waste is particularly harmful because it does not biodegrade and can persist in the environment for hundreds of years, polluting beaches and harming marine life. Other sources of ocean pollution include oil spills, chemical runoff, and agricultural nutrients such as nitrogen, which can create dead zones in the water.
Plastic pollution can entangle and injure marine animals, and they may also mistake plastic items for food and eat them. Microplastics, which are smaller than 5mm in diameter, have been detected in various marine species, including plankton and whales. When small organisms that consume microplastics are eaten by larger animals, the toxic chemicals migrate up the food chain and can eventually be ingested by humans.
In addition to physical debris, the oceans are also affected by water pollution, which can start as air pollution that settles into waterways and oceans. Dirt, topsoil, and silt can run off into waterways, harming fish and wildlife habitats. Noise pollution generated by shipping and military activity can cause cellular damage to invertebrates such as jellyfish and anemones, which are a vital food source for many marine creatures.
