CAUSES OF MARINE

POLLUTION IN OUR
ENVIRONMENT
Group V

Marine Pollution
occurs when harmful, or

potentially harmful, effects result

from the entry into the ocean of
chemicals,particles,industrial,
agricultural and residentialwaste,
noise, or the spread of
invasive organisms . Most sources
of marine pollution are land based.

 The pollution often comes from

nonpoint sources such as

agriculturalrunoff, wind-blown
debris and dust.Nutrient pollution
, a form ofwater pollution , refers
to contamination by excessive
inputs of nutrients. It is a primary
cause ofeutrophicationof surface
waters, in which excess nutrients,
usuallynitrogenorphosphorus,
stimulate algal growth.

Causes of Marine Pollution

Though, thethreats to marine environment are
many, there are those that stand
outamongthe rest.
Oil spillsare becoming a major hazard as
tankers andcargo shipsdischarge it either
deliberately or accidentally. Poisonous
materials like PCBs, mercury, PAHs and dioxins
along with other radioactive wastes that are
disposed into these bodies cause enormous
marine pollution.

 In addition to these, the damage

occurring due to the large scale and

insensitive disposal of human wastes
andsewagecontents into oceans is
unimaginable. Moreover, the dead
organic matter that remains in the water
causes further pollution that is very
dangerous to the existing life forms.

Sources of Marine Pollution

Land Based and Coastal-Based

activities
Continental shelf drilling activities
Sea-bed mining
Ocean Dumping
Vessel-sourced pollution
Atmospheric sources of pollution

Effects of Marine Pollution

Storage and Pipeline Operation

Accidents
Ships Name

Year and
Location

Oil
Lost(Uncovere
d oil in metric
Tons)

Atlantic
Empress
ABT Summer

1979, Off
Tobago,West Indies

287,000

1991, 700Nm of
Angola

260,000

Castillo de
Beliver
Amoco Cadiz

1983, Off Saldanha

Bay, South Africa

252,000

1978, Off Brittany,

France

223,000

Haven

1991, Genoa, Italy

144,000

Odyssey

1988, 700Nm of
Nova Scoatia
Canada

132,000

Torrey Canyon

1967, Sicily Isle, UK

119,000

Urquiola

1976, La Coruna,
Spain

100,000

Hawaiian Patriot

1977, 300Nm of
Honolulu

95,000

Jakob Maersk

1975, Oporto,
Portugal

88,000

Braer

1993, Shetland
Islands, UK

85,000

Kahark

1989, 120Nm of
Atlantic Coast of
Morroco

80,000

Aegean Sea

1992, La Coruna,
Spain

74,000

Sea Empress

1996, Melford
Haven, UK

72,000

Katrina P.

1992, of
Maputo,
Mozambique

72,000

Assimi

1983, 55Nm of
Muscat, Oman
1974, Magellan
Straits, Chile
1971, of Cape
Aguthas South
Africa

53,000

1989, Price
William Sound,
Alaska, USA

37,000

Metula
Wafra

Exxon Valdez

50,000
40,000

Statistical Tools
Books
e.g.

: Marine Pollution and Prevention

by Mrs. Teresita San Diego Oblepias
: Manual on Oil Pollution
Internet
e.g. :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_pollution
:http://www.marineinsight.com/marine/environme
nt /effects-of-marine-pollution/

Resources

Books

e.g. : Marine Pollution and Prevention

by Mrs. Teresita San Diego Oblepias
: Manual on Oil Pollution
Internet
e.g.
:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_pollution
:http://www.marineinsight.com/marine/environ
ment/effects-of-marine-pollution/