Bronte Wells
Oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth's surface and play a crucial role in governing the weather, cleaning the air, providing food, and supporting life for millions of species. Unfortunately, human activities have led to significant pollution in our oceans, threatening the health of our planet. Marine pollution is primarily caused by two types of pollution: chemical contamination and trash. Chemical pollution, or nutrient pollution, occurs when fertilizers, fossil fuels, and other chemicals runoff into waterways and eventually flow into the ocean. Trash pollution, largely consisting of plastic, enters the ocean through littering, poor waste management, storm winds, and natural disasters like tsunamis. This trash can persist in the ocean for hundreds of years, endangering marine life through ingestion and entanglement. With billions of pounds of pollutants entering the ocean annually, it is essential to address the sources of ocean pollution and implement solutions to protect the health of our oceans and the planet.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Marine debris | Microplastics, derelict fishing gear, abandoned vessels, plastic bags, plastic bottles, bottle caps, food wrappers, cigarette butts, etc. |
| Marine pollution sources | Land-based sources (80%), ocean-based sources (20%) |
| Land-based sources | Littering, poor waste management, storm winds, illegal dumping, stormwater discharge, natural disasters (tsunamis, hurricanes), runoff from farms, timber harvest areas, septic tanks, vehicles, etc. |
| Ocean-based sources | Derelict fishing gear, abandoned vessels |
| Plastic pollution | Plastic items can take hundreds of years to decompose. |
| Impact of plastic pollution | Marine life entanglement, ingestion of plastic by marine life, plastic fragments its way up the food chain, including into human food sources. |
| Chemical pollution | Fertilizers, nitrogen, phosphorus, industrial chemicals, oil spills, etc. |
| Impact of chemical pollution | Promotes growth of toxic algal blooms, harms wildlife and humans, creates "dead zones" for marine life. |
| Global efforts | Over 60 countries have banned/limited disposable plastic items. |
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What You'll Learn
Mismanaged waste and littering
Marine debris, including plastic waste, is a significant contributor to ocean pollution. Mismanaged waste and littering are major factors in this regard.
Mismanaged waste refers to plastic waste that is not properly recycled, incinerated, or disposed of in designated waste facilities. This waste often ends up in rivers, which serve as the primary pathways for litter to reach the sea. The plastic waste breaks down into smaller pieces, known as microplastics, which are then ingested by marine organisms, leading to toxic chemicals accumulating in their tissues. As larger animals consume these smaller organisms, the chemicals move up the food chain, eventually reaching humans.
Littering, along with storm winds and poor waste management practices, contributes significantly to the accumulation of marine debris. This includes the disposal of plastic items such as shopping bags, beverage bottles, cigarette butts, bottle caps, food wrappers, and fishing gear. Plastic waste is particularly harmful due to its longevity, with plastic items taking hundreds of years to decompose. As a result, marine animals become entangled or mistake plastic waste for food, leading to injuries and deaths.
The impact of mismanaged waste and littering is evident in the formation of garbage patches in ocean gyres. These patches are created by large rotating ocean currents that pull debris together, often towards the centre of the gyre. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located halfway between Hawaii and California, is a notable example, containing approximately 100 million kilograms of plastic.
The sources of mismanaged waste and litter vary globally. Middle-income countries, where plastic consumption is increasing, face challenges due to inadequate waste management systems. On the other hand, high-income countries often have effective waste management systems, minimising the impact of plastic consumption on the environment. However, it is important to note that even in high-income countries, a small proportion of plastic waste may still enter waterways and contribute to ocean pollution.
To address the issue of mismanaged waste and littering, organisations like The Ocean Cleanup work to identify key sources of pollution and implement cleanup operations. They also research the impact of plastic pollution on the environment, society, and the economy. Additionally, countries have taken regulatory steps, with over sixty countries enacting restrictions or bans on disposable plastic items. These collective efforts aim to reduce the amount of mismanaged waste and littering that ends up in our oceans.
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Pollution from non-biodegradable plastics
Marine pollution is a combination of chemicals and trash, most of which comes from land sources and is washed or blown into the oceans. One of the biggest sources of pollution is non-point source pollution, which occurs as a result of runoff from farms, vehicles, septic tanks, and factories.
Non-biodegradable plastics are a significant contributor to marine pollution. Plastic waste is particularly problematic as it is long-lasting and can take hundreds of years to decompose. Plastic items such as shopping bags, beverage bottles, and fishing gear can entangle and injure marine life, and some animals mistake plastic for food and eat it.
Microplastics, which are tiny plastic particles smaller than 5mm, have been detected in a range of marine species, from plankton to whales. When small organisms consume microplastics, the toxic chemicals are absorbed into their tissues and migrate up the food chain, eventually becoming part of the human food chain.
While biodegradable plastics are often touted as a solution to plastic pollution, they are not without their drawbacks. Biodegradable plastics refer to products that can break apart naturally in the environment, but the timeline for this process is uncertain and can take months or centuries. Additionally, biodegradable plastics can contaminate recycling streams and are not always accepted by composting facilities due to the chemical additives they contain.
To effectively address plastic pollution, a multifaceted approach is necessary. This includes reducing, reusing, and properly disposing of plastic waste, as well as transitioning to a circular economy. While biodegradable plastics can play a role in specific applications, such as compostable takeout containers, they are not a standalone solution to the complex issue of plastic pollution in the oceans.
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Oil spills and fossil fuels
Oil spills can have devastating environmental and economic consequences. The Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010, for instance, resulted in 11 fatalities and saw approximately 134 million gallons of oil released into the ocean. This spill caused severe damage to marine life and ecosystems, with ongoing restoration efforts even a decade later. The economic fallout from such incidents can also be significant, with fishing bans and other measures impacting various industries and communities.
In addition to these large-scale incidents, thousands of smaller oil spills occur annually, some spilling less than a barrel of oil. These spills, along with nonpoint source pollution, contribute to the constant threat to marine ecosystems. Oil can enter the ocean through runoff from roads, rivers, and land-based sources, with rain carrying oil and pollutants from roads and other surfaces into waterways and, eventually, the sea.
Fossil fuels, including oil, are a major contributor to plastic pollution in the ocean. As the fossil fuel industry recognizes its limited future in energy and transportation, it is increasingly turning to plastic production to ensure its survival. This shift threatens to exacerbate the existing plastic pollution crisis, as plastic debris and microplastics harm marine life and ecosystems. Plastic pollution, a direct byproduct of the fossil fuel industry, is driving climate change and threatening the health of our oceans and the communities that depend on them.
To address ocean pollution from oil spills and fossil fuels, legislative action is required to repeal tax breaks that encourage new oil drilling and plastic production. Implementing regulations to limit or ban disposable plastic items is also essential to reducing the influx of plastic pollution into our oceans.
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Chemical contamination
Marine pollution is a pressing issue, with the ocean inundated by two primary pollution types: chemicals and trash. Chemical contamination, also known as nutrient pollution, is a concern for health, environmental, and economic reasons. This contamination occurs when human activities, such as fertilizer use on farms, result in the runoff of chemicals into waterways that eventually flow into the ocean.
The heightened concentration of chemicals like nitrogen and phosphorus in coastal waters encourages the growth of algal blooms, which can be harmful to humans and deadly to marine life. This type of pollution has far-reaching consequences, impacting the health of all organisms and damaging economic structures worldwide. For instance, the negative effects of algal blooms on health and the environment hurt local fishing and tourism industries.
Nonpoint source pollution, which arises from runoff, is a significant contributor to chemical contamination in the ocean. This type of pollution originates from various small and large sources, including septic tanks, vehicles, farms, livestock ranches, and timber harvest areas. Fertilizer use on farms is a notable example of nonpoint source pollution, as the excess nutrients from chemical fertilizers can runoff into nearby waterways, eventually making their way into the ocean.
Point source pollution, on the other hand, refers to pollution from a single source, such as an oil or chemical spill. While less frequent, these events can have substantial impacts. Discharge from faulty or damaged factories or water treatment systems also falls under this category. Industrial discharges, including acid sludge waste generated in processes like DDT production, have contaminated marine environments, with long-lasting consequences.
Additionally, chemical pollution can enter the ocean through atmospheric transport, river deposition, and direct discharges. The use of personal care products, such as sunscreens containing oxybenzone, can also negatively impact coral health and reproduction, contributing to chemical contamination in the ocean.
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Noise pollution
Marine mammals and other aquatic animals have evolved over millions of years to use underwater sound as a primary means of communication and environmental assessment. Sound plays an essential role in critical activities for marine species, such as breeding, foraging, maintaining social structure, and avoiding predators.
Since the industrial age, human activities have introduced increasing amounts of sound into the oceans. These activities include global shipping, oil and gas exploration, construction, naval exercises, recreational boating, and energy exploration. The noise from these activities can travel long distances underwater, leading to increased noise levels in many coastal and offshore habitats.
The impacts of ocean noise pollution on marine life can be immediate and severe, or they may accumulate over time. It can interfere with and obscure the ability of marine animals to hear natural sounds, disrupting their natural behaviours and communication. For example, noise pollution can drive whales and dolphins out of important feeding or breeding grounds or force them to alter their migration routes. It can also reduce their ability to hear environmental cues vital for survival, such as those for finding food and navigating to preferred habitats.
While there are no international standards for regulating ocean noise pollution, local governments and individual ports have established their own regulations. Some international institutions, such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), are also beginning to address this issue.
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Frequently asked questions
Oceans are polluted by a variety of human activities, both on coastlines and far inland. The main ways pollution enters the ocean are through nonpoint source pollution, oil spills, plastic pollution, and nutrient pollution.
Nonpoint source pollution occurs as a result of runoff from various sources, including septic tanks, vehicles, farms, and timber harvest areas. It is one of the biggest sources of ocean pollution and can make water unsafe for humans and wildlife.
Plastic enters the ocean from thousands of sources worldwide every day. It is a significant problem due to the durability of plastic, which means it can persist in the environment for long periods. Plastic pollution comes from single-use plastic items such as bags, bottles, and straws, as well as larger sources like derelict fishing gear.
