Greta Jimenez
Marine pollution is a pressing issue that poses a threat to marine wildlife and ecosystems, as well as industries and human health. It is caused by a range of substances and materials that are introduced into the marine environment by human activities. These pollutants include chemicals, trash, oil spills, agricultural runoff, plastic pollution, excess nitrogen and phosphorus, toxic metals, pesticides, and personal care products. The accumulation of these substances in the ocean can have detrimental effects on the physical, chemical, and biological state of marine ecosystems, impacting wildlife, fisheries, tourism, and human health. Addressing marine pollution requires global efforts to reduce, regulate, and prevent the release of harmful substances into the marine environment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Marine pollution is defined by the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as "the introduction by man, directly or indirectly, of substances or energy into the marine environment … which results or is likely to result in such deleterious effects as harm to living resources and marine life." |
| Types | Chemicals, trash, oil, sewage, urban and industrial run-off, pesticides, petroleum, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, heavy metals, industrial discharge, microplastics, nutrient pollution, toxins, noise, excess carbon dioxide, invasive organisms |
| Sources | Land-based activity (80%), marine transportation, runoff, air pollution, wind-blown debris, dust, direct discharge, ship pollution, bilge pollution, dredging, atmospheric pollution, deep sea mining, agricultural runoff |
| Effects | Harm to marine wildlife and ecosystems, negative impact on industries and livelihoods dependent on marine ecosystems (e.g. fisheries and tourism), toxic chemicals becoming concentrated in the food chain and impacting human health, reduced reproduction rates in marine species, endocrine disruption, teratogens |
| Prevention and Control | Marking and labelling of dangerous goods, development of international policies, laws, and treaties, collaboration between government agencies for monitoring, assessment, and limitation of pollution |
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What You'll Learn
Oil spills and discharge
Marine pollution is a combination of chemicals and trash, most of which comes from land sources. Oil spills and discharges are a major contributor to this. Oil spills are the release of liquid petroleum hydrocarbons into the environment, especially the marine ecosystem, due to human activity. They are a form of pollution and can have severe environmental and economic consequences.
Oil spills can be caused by human error, natural disasters, technical failures, or deliberate releases. Human error accounts for 30-50% of all oil spills, with equipment failure or malfunction contributing to 20-40% of incidents. Deliberate releases include operational discharges or acts of war. Oil spills from tankers, offshore platforms, drilling rigs, and wells can result in the release of crude oil, while spills of refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, and their by-products can also occur.
The environmental impact of oil spills is significant. Oil on ocean surfaces harms aquatic life by reducing sunlight penetration and dissolved oxygen levels. It also damages the insulating and waterproofing properties of feathers and fur, making birds and marine mammals more susceptible to hypothermia and reducing their buoyancy. Ingesting oil can be toxic to animals, and the damage to their habitats and reproductive rates may hinder the long-term recovery of populations. Oil spills also affect plant life, with saltwater marshes and mangroves being particularly vulnerable.
The economic repercussions of oil spills can be far-reaching. If beaches and populated shorelines are affected, tourism and commerce may suffer. Additionally, power plants and other utilities that rely on seawater may experience disruptions. Oil spills can contaminate drinking water supplies, posing risks to human health, including respiratory and reproductive problems, liver damage, and immune system issues.
While there is no thoroughly satisfactory method for cleaning up major oil spills, various techniques are employed to contain and remove the oil. These include using floating booms, skimming, and sorbents to separate and absorb the oil from the water. However, cleanup activities can never remove 100% of the spilled oil, and care must be taken to avoid causing additional harm to sensitive habitats.
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Plastic pollution
The durability of plastic is a significant concern when it enters the ocean. Unlike other types of waste, plastic does not fully biodegrade, persisting in the marine environment for long periods. The oldest pieces of plastic found in ocean clean-up efforts date back to the 1960s, demonstrating the longevity of this pollutant. Plastic pollution has severe impacts on marine wildlife, with entanglement and ingestion affecting thousands of seabirds, sea turtles, seals, and other marine mammals each year. Endangered species are particularly vulnerable, with over 100 endangered megafaunal species impacted by plastic entanglement.
Microplastics, plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in diameter, are another critical aspect of plastic pollution. These tiny particles are consumed by small organisms, which are then eaten by larger animals, allowing toxic chemicals to migrate up the food chain and eventually become part of the human food supply. Microplastics can absorb harmful pollutants like pesticides and dyes, further exacerbating their toxic impact on marine life and ecosystems.
Addressing plastic pollution requires a multifaceted approach. Prevention and cleanup are crucial, with a focus on reducing the use of disposable and single-use plastic items, promoting reuse and recycling, and improving waste management practices. While some countries have enacted regulations to limit or ban disposable plastic items, the transition to a more sustainable society will be challenging and long-term. Additionally, cleanup efforts may be difficult, as many types of plastic debris do not float and are lost deep in the ocean.
The Pacific Garbage Patch, located between California and Hawaii, is a stark example of the consequences of plastic pollution. This area, covering approximately 1.6 million square kilometers, contains plastics and microplastics that outnumber biomass by a significant margin. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is primarily composed of plastic from fishing activities, highlighting the need to address ocean-based sources of pollution in addition to land-based ones.
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Chemical pollution
Marine pollution is a pressing issue that poses a threat to marine wildlife and ecosystems, as well as industries and livelihoods dependent on them, such as fisheries and tourism. It is caused by a combination of chemicals and trash, with 80% of this waste originating from land-based activities and the rest from marine transportation. Chemical pollution, in particular, has severe consequences for human and ocean health.
Pollutants such as endocrine disruptors and teratogens impact the reproductive abilities of marine species and reduce offspring survival rates. Personal care products, such as sunscreens containing oxybenzone, have also been found to negatively affect coral health and reproduction. Toxic chemicals, including PCBs, PBDEs, and pesticides, accumulate in marine organisms and become more concentrated as they move up the food chain, eventually reaching humans. These chemicals have been linked to various diseases, including cardiovascular issues, developmental and neurobehavioral disorders, metabolic diseases, endocrine disruption, and cancer.
Oil spills and discharges from shipping activities are another significant source of chemical pollution. While major oil spills have declined due to improved technologies and policies, smaller spills and routine discharges still contribute significantly to ocean pollution. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as PCBs and PBDEs, are of particular concern due to their long-lasting environmental impact. These chemicals are banned, but they continue to be detected in high concentrations in deep-sea creatures, demonstrating their persistence and bioaccumulation in the marine food chain.
Additionally, air pollution contributes to chemical pollution in the ocean by carrying iron, carbonic acid, nitrogen, silicon, sulfur, pesticides, and dust particles into the marine environment. Atmospheric deposition from burning fossil fuels accounts for a significant portion of nitrogen input in certain regions, leading to severe eutrophication and algal blooms.
Addressing chemical pollution requires a multifaceted approach, including regulating the use and disposal of toxic chemicals, improving agricultural and waste management practices, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. By implementing policies and technologies that minimise the release of harmful substances into the marine environment, we can help mitigate the impacts of chemical pollution on ocean health and, consequently, human health.
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Air pollution
Marine pollution is a combination of chemicals and trash, most of which comes from land-based activities. It is estimated that 80% of marine pollution comes from land sources, including industrial, agricultural, and residential waste, particles, noise, excess carbon dioxide, and invasive organisms. Marine transportation is also a significant contributor to marine pollution, both through the dumping of pollutants directly into the marine environment and the emission of exhaust gases into the atmosphere.
The commercial marine shipping industry is a major contributor to global air pollution, particularly through the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), and particulate matter. These emissions have negative consequences for both human health and the environment. For example, in Canadian coastal waters, acidification caused by air pollution from shipping damages the shells of clams and mussels, affecting the productivity of the aquaculture industry, and weakens coral structures, impacting their function as habitats for other species.
To address the issue of air pollution from marine shipping, various measures are being implemented. These include the use of alternative energy sources, modifications to ship components, and improvements in operational efficiencies. Regulations such as MARPOL Annex VI aim to limit the main air pollutants emitted by ships, including sulfur oxides and nitrous oxides, and control the emission of volatile organic compounds and shipboard incineration. Additionally, the use of shore power, where electrical power is provided to a ship while docked, can significantly reduce SOx, NOx, and particulate matter emissions.
Overall, air pollution is a significant contributor to marine pollution, and efforts are being made to mitigate its impacts on the marine environment and global climate.
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Eutrophication
Marine pollution is a combination of chemicals and trash, most of which comes from land-based sources. It results in damage to the environment, the health of all organisms, and economic structures worldwide. Eutrophication is a leading cause of impairment of many freshwater and coastal marine ecosystems. It is characterised by excessive plant and algal growth due to the increased availability of one or more limiting growth factors needed for photosynthesis, such as sunlight, carbon dioxide, and nutrient fertilisers.
The increased concentration of chemicals, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, in the coastal ocean promotes the growth of algal blooms, which can be toxic to wildlife and harmful to humans. This bloom of algae disrupts the normal functioning of the ecosystem and causes many problems. For example, the algae may use up all the oxygen in the water, leaving none for other marine life, resulting in the death of many aquatic organisms such as fish. The bloom of algae may also block sunlight from photosynthetic marine plants under the water surface. Some algae even produce toxins that are harmful to higher forms of life, causing problems along the food chain and affecting any animal that feeds on them.
High rates of photosynthesis associated with eutrophication can deplete dissolved inorganic carbon and raise pH to extreme levels during the day. Elevated pH can, in turn, impair the chemosensory abilities of organisms that rely on the perception of dissolved chemical cues for their survival. When these dense algal blooms eventually die, microbial decomposition severely depletes dissolved oxygen, creating a hypoxic or anoxic 'dead zone' lacking sufficient oxygen to support most organisms. Eutrophication is a complex issue that requires the collective efforts of scientists, policymakers, and citizens to reduce nutrient inputs and develop effective, long-term biomanipulation techniques.
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Frequently asked questions
Marine pollution is a combination of chemicals and trash, most of which comes from land sources. Some of the substances that are marine pollutants include:
- Plastic
- Microplastics
- Mercury
- Oil
- Nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus
- Toxins like methylmercury, PCBs, dioxins, and pesticides
The sources of marine pollutants can be varied and include both direct and indirect sources. Some common sources include:
- Land-based sources such as littering, storm winds, poor waste management, runoff from farms, and construction sites.
- Marine transportation and ocean-based sources such as derelict fishing gear and abandoned vessels.
- Industrial activities, such as coal combustion and small-scale gold mining.
- Agricultural activities, such as the use of chemical fertilizers and intensive agriculture.
Marine pollutants have far-reaching consequences and can impact marine life and ecosystems in several ways, including:
- Physical entanglement or ingestion of plastic debris and microplastics, leading to injuries or death.
- Chemical contamination of marine organisms, which can lead to cancer, behavioral changes, and reproductive issues.
- Oxygen depletion in seawater due to excess nitrogen and phosphorus, creating "dead zones" where marine life cannot survive.
- Disruption of ecosystems through the extension of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and loss of biodiversity.
Marine pollutants can have direct and indirect impacts on human health:
- Consumption of contaminated seafood can lead to the deposition of toxins in human tissues, resulting in long-term health conditions, cancer, and birth defects.
- Pollutants can accumulate in the food chain, with larger animals ingesting smaller organisms that have absorbed toxic chemicals.
- Economic losses and negative impacts on industries such as seafood, which is a principal source of dietary protein for billions of people.
