Bronte Wells
Marine pollution is a pressing issue that encompasses a range of human-created solid materials and chemicals that end up in the ocean, causing harm to the environment, organisms, and economic structures. While some pollutants are biodegradable, such as crude oil and certain types of plastics under specific conditions, others like microplastics, DDTs, mercury, and petroleum are persistent and damaging. These non-biodegradable pollutants have severe ecological and health implications, including the entanglement and ingestion by marine life, bioaccumulation in the food chain, and toxicological effects on humans and marine species. Understanding which pollutants are biodegradable is crucial for developing effective strategies to combat marine pollution and mitigate its detrimental impact on the planet's oceans and ecosystems.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Biodegradable Marine Pollutants | Crude oil, mercury, petroleum, seaweed Caulerpa, some plastics |
| Non-biodegradable Marine Pollutants | Microplastics, DDTs, PCBs, sewage sludge, fertilizers, pesticides, plastic bags, cups, bottles, fishing gear, nets, balloons |
| Plastics Characteristics | Do not biodegrade, photodegrade into microplastics, act as an artificial habitat for marine life |
| Microplastics Characteristics | Less than 5mm in diameter, ingested by marine organisms, enter the human food chain |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic pollution
The issue with plastic marine debris is twofold. Firstly, plastics are extremely durable and do not break down like natural materials. They can persist in the marine environment for hundreds of years, fragmenting into smaller and smaller pieces, known as microplastics. These microplastics, less than five millimetres in diameter, are easily ingested by marine organisms, from plankton to whales. The toxic chemicals in the plastics are then absorbed into the tissues of these organisms and can migrate up the food chain, eventually reaching humans.
Secondly, plastics can act as a vector for other chemical pollutants. For example, microbeads in cosmetics can bind chemical pollutants like PCBs and DDTs, which are then released into the marine environment. Additionally, toxic chemicals such as Bisphenol-A (BPA), monomers, flame retardants, oligomers, metal ions, and antibiotics are incorporated into plastics. These chemicals can have significant impacts on the reproduction, genetic mutation, and growth of organisms that ingest or come into contact with them.
Biodegradable plastics have been proposed as a solution to the plastic pollution problem. However, it is important to note that the term "biodegradable" does not necessarily mean that these plastics will quickly break down in marine environments. Some biodegradable plastics are designed to break down only in industrial composting facilities or controlled conditions, and they may persist in the ocean for many years without significant biodegradation. Additionally, studies have shown that biodegradable plastics may have similar toxicity to conventional plastics and contain similar types and amounts of chemicals of concern.
While biodegradable plastics may have a role in reducing plastic waste on land, their effectiveness in addressing marine plastic pollution is questionable. Preventing plastic marine debris from entering the ocean in the first place is of utmost importance, as well as promoting recycling and the development of alternative materials that are truly biodegradable in marine environments.
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Agricultural runoff
Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from agricultural runoff are the primary sources of nutrient input in eutrophication. The increased concentration of these chemicals in the coastal ocean promotes the growth of toxic algal blooms, harmful to both wildlife and humans. Continuous input of heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from agricultural runoff can easily accumulate in organisms, posing risks to drinking water quality.
To mitigate the environmental impact of agricultural runoff, various control strategies and sustainable agricultural practices have been proposed:
- Source control aims to reduce the application of N and P and prevent leaching through conservation tillage, fertilization management, and water-saving irrigation.
- Process control eliminates pollutants by utilizing ecological ditches or constructed wetlands, acting as natural biofilters to trap pollutants before they reach water bodies.
- End treatment is employed as a last resort to avoid damaging receiving waters if pollutant levels remain unsafe.
- Sustainable practices include crop diversification, contour farming, cover cropping, and organic farming, which reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, thereby decreasing water contamination.
- Bioremediation methods can break down harmful chemicals in the soil, and proper manure management recovers valuable nutrients, improving soil health and reducing water contamination.
While agricultural runoff itself may not be biodegradable, implementing these strategies and practices can help reduce its environmental impact and contribute to the protection of water quality.
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Sewage and wastewater
On the other hand, wastewater is a broader term that refers to any water after it has been used in various applications. It includes industrial wastewater, agricultural wastewater, and other non-household flows. Blackwater, in the context of sanitation, refers specifically to wastewater from toilets, which can contain pathogens that may spread through the fecal-oral route. These pathogens include bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and helminths, which can cause illnesses such as gastroenteritis, hepatitis A, typhoid, polio, cholera, and dysentery.
Both sewage and wastewater can contain pollutants and disease-causing agents, making treatment essential. Treatment options for sewage include collection and transport for release into the environment after undergoing treatment compatible with local requirements. However, all disposal options carry the risk of causing water pollution.
While sewage and wastewater can be sources of pollution, they can also be considered biodegradable. Biodegradable waste can be used for composting or as a resource for heat, electricity, and fuel through incineration or anaerobic digestion. Human waste, which is a component of sewage, is specifically mentioned as an example of biodegradable waste. The treated excreta can be reused for soil conditioning or fertilizer in agriculture, utilizing the plant-available nutrients, organic matter, and energy it contains.
However, it is important to manage biodegradable waste properly. When not handled correctly, biodegradable waste can contribute to climate change, particularly through methane emissions from anaerobic fermentation in landfills. Regulatory regimes have been established to address this issue, aiming to reduce the biodegradable content in municipal waste and implement landfill gas utilization strategies.
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Atmospheric pollution
Marine pollution is a pressing issue, with the ocean inundated by a combination of chemicals and trash, largely from land-based sources. Atmospheric pollution is one of the pathways through which pollutants enter the ocean. Air pollution carries iron, carbonic acid, nitrogen, silicon, sulfur, pesticides, and dust particles into the ocean. These pollutants can settle into waterways and oceans, contributing to the overall degradation of marine ecosystems.
One of the significant concerns regarding atmospheric pollution and its impact on the ocean is the introduction of excess nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients, associated with fertilizers and agricultural runoff, promote the growth of algal blooms, which can be toxic to marine life and humans. The degradation of these blooms further exacerbates the problem by consuming oxygen in coastal waters, posing a threat to marine organisms dependent on well-oxygenated habitats.
Another critical aspect of atmospheric pollution is its role in the global spread of industrialised agriculture and the increasing use of chemical fertilizers. This has led to the expansion of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) into previously unaffected regions. HABs contribute to eutrophication, creating dead zones where oxygen levels plummet, making it challenging for marine life to survive.
Furthermore, atmospheric pollution can transport and deposit toxic chemicals and pollutants over vast distances. For example, populations in the circumpolar region are heavily exposed to mercury through the consumption of contaminated fish and marine mammals. Mercury, released primarily from coal combustion and small-scale gold mining, accumulates in the ocean, bioaccumulating in large predatory fish and biomagnifying in the food chain. This results in severe health risks for humans, with methylmercury known to cause neurological issues during early brain development.
Additionally, atmospheric pollution contributes to the global microplastics crisis. Microplastics, formed from the fragmentation of larger plastic items, are pervasive in the ocean. Due to their small size, they are easily ingested by marine organisms, leading to bioaccumulation and biomagnification of toxic chemicals within the food chain. This ultimately affects human health, as microplastics and associated toxins are consumed by humans through contaminated seafood.
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Oil spills
Marine pollution is a growing problem, with our oceans being flooded with chemicals and trash, most of which comes from land sources. One of the most well-known and devastating forms of marine pollution is oil spills.
While traditional cleanup methods for oil spills include chemical or manual containment and removal, bioremediation has emerged as a less labour-intensive and less expensive approach. Bioremediation involves using microorganisms, plants, or enzymes to metabolize and remove harmful substances. In the case of oil spills, hundreds of species of bacteria, archaea, and fungi can degrade petroleum. These microorganisms utilize hydrocarbons as sources of carbon and energy for growth.
The efficiency of bioremediation depends on maintaining ideal conditions such as pH, temperature, moisture, oxygen levels, and nutrient availability. For example, during the cleanup of the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989, fertilizers containing nitrogen were added to increase the available nutrients for indigenous petroleum-degrading microorganisms, doubling the rates of decomposition. However, it's important to note that across all remediation techniques, less than 10% of the oil released from the Exxon Valdez tanker was recovered.
Additionally, the type of oil spilled influences the biodegradation process. Lighter crudes, such as the oil released during the BP Deepwater Horizon spill, contain simpler hydrocarbons that are more readily biodegraded compared to heavier crudes like those spilled by Exxon Valdez. Anaerobic degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons is also possible but occurs at a much slower rate.
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Frequently asked questions
No, plastics do not biodegrade. They photodegrade into smaller fragments, ultimately becoming microplastics, which are then absorbed by microscopic marine organisms and enter the food chain.
Some examples of non-biodegradable marine pollutants include plastic bags, bottles, fishing gear, and other discarded plastic items. The largest single type of plastic pollution is discarded and lost nets from the fishing industry.
Yes, in the case of an oil spill, fungi can be introduced to biodegrade the petroleum.
