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Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse
change. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or
light. Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or
naturally occurring contaminants.
Many human activities unintentionally add nitrogen and phosphorus or other pollutants
to surface waters. Over many decades, urban development, farming, industry and manmade pollutants such as partially treated sewage from our homes and businesses have
been pumped into waterways for disposal, causing a decline in the health of our rivers and
streams.
Storm water runoff has also contributed to the decline of waterways. Storm water or
excessive irrigation water running over our lawns, sidewalks, streets and parking lots take
fertilizers and pesticides, motor oil and heavy metals into waterways.
Oil Industry
The oil industry is responsible for occasional large scale oil spills, which prove catastrophic, but
they are also responsible for smaller leaks that occur on a regular basis. Oil leaks from offshore
drilling rigs and boats, and some people even intentionally dump oil into the ocean. Natural oil
seepage only counts for a very small percentage of oil pollution in the ocean. You may not realize it,
but when you pour oil down the sink in your home, it can end up causing ocean pollution. When
gasoline is burned, either by cars or other vehicles or engines, chemicals are released into the air.
What's in the air will eventually become rain that, of course, returns to the ocean.
Manufacturing
You only need look at a factory billowing smoke to understand that most manufacturing
processes release harmful gases and liquids into the atmosphere. The manufacturing industry can
pollute the ocean in several ways. The most obvious is dumping toxic liquids directly into the ocean
or other water sources that flow into the ocean. In some cases, these liquids are warm and can raise
the temperature of the ocean water, known as thermal pollution. Delicate ecosystems that cannot
survive at higher temperatures may be wiped out entirely. A more subtle result of manufacturing is
acid rain. Chemicals are released into the atmosphere and pollute the air, and when they are
condensed and fall with the rain, they contaminate the ocean indirectly.
Agriculture
Farming and agriculture may seem far removed from ocean problems. Farmland is usually far
inland and in landlocked places, such as the Midwestern United States. However, when it rains, toxic
pesticides are washed into the rivers and streams that eventually flow into the ocean. Marine life
then ingests these toxins and if they don't die, they might be consumed by humans, causing illnesses
and other unpleasant side effects. Pesticides often contain heavy metals such as mercury, copper
and lead, which have been known to cause serious health issues.
either along the shore or by ship. Plastic is especially dangerous to marine life because it
disintegrates into tiny pieces and is often ingested. Even when trash is contained in a landfill,
chemicals may leak and contaminate the ground water, which can eventually mix with ocean water.
Sewage
Although it's hard to imagine raw sewage being dumped into the ocean, it happens on a
regular basis. The oceans are vast and can break down this vile liquid, but it still causes many
adverse effects on marine life. Sewage includes "black water" from toilets and also water from
laundry, food preparation and sinks, referred to as "gray water". Imagine all of the toxic cleaning
products and other household substances that are flushed down the sink finding their way into the
ocean! Sometimes, sludge from sewage treatment is also dumped into the ocean. Consider what
happens when it rains and all of the grime from the streets is washed into the sewer system, which
could eventually wash out to sea.
Ocean Pollution Eventually Affects Everyone
It may not seem like pollution that exists in the middle of the ocean would have much of an
affect on your life, but it will all eventually wash up onto shore or fall as rain through the process of
evaporation and condensation. If you love animals, enjoy seafood or like to take trips to the beach,
you should understand ocean pollution causes, and even more importantly, become part of the
solution.
Runoff
Air pollution
Illegal dumping
Oil is dangerous to marine life in several ways. If Marine animals get oil on their fur or feathers, then
they may be unable to fly or move properly, maintain body temperature, or feed. The oil washes up
on beaches and contaminates nesting areas as well as feeding grounds.
In addition, oil affects coral reefs in a negative way. These reefs are not only beautiful, they provide a
habitat for many sea creatures. Oil also clogs up the gills of the fish that live there and suffocates
them. When oil floats on the surface, it blocks sunlight and prevents marine plants from utilizing the
light for photosynthesis. These plants are an important part of both the food chain and the reef
habitats found in the oceans.
Toxic Materials
Toxic materials are often the side effects of modern living. Chemical residues from fertilizing your
yard get washed into the rivers and are carried to the oceans. Mercury, dioxins, and other pollutants
find their way into the ocean and sink to the bottom. Bottom feeding organisms ingest these
chemicals and contaminate the food chain. The smaller fish is eaten by the larger fish, which is then
eaten by a human. Toxins build up in the tissues of the people who eat the contaminated fish and this
can lead to illnesses like cancer, as well as reproductive disorders, birth defects, and other long term
health problems.
The effects of ocean pollution on marine life when toxins are involved include the following:
Behavior abnormalities
Cancer
Death
Lesions
Reproductive changes
Various pieces of trash can cause entanglement, starvation, drowning, and strangulation. When the
trash washes up onto beaches and into marshes and wetlands, it ruins breeding grounds and
habitats.
Oxygen is necessary for all life. As trash degrades in the water, it uses up oxygen. When oxygen
levels are low marine life can't thrive.
How much plastic is in the ocean? Scientists estimate that there is one hundred million metric tons of
plastic debris in the ocean.
Don't litter
Recycle
POLL
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