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Essay on marine pollution: top 5 essays.

Read this essay to learn about Marine Pollution. After reading this essay you will learn about: 1. Meaning of Marine Pollution 2. Causes of Marine Pollution 3. Effects 4. Policies 5. Control.

Essay Contents:

• Essay on the Control of Marine Pollution

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Essay # 1. Meaning of Marine Pollution :

The Earth’s oceans are all connected to one another. Until the year 2000, there were four recognized oceans:

The Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic. In the spring of 2000, the International Hydrographic Organization delimited a new ocean, the Southern Ocean (it surrounds Antarctica and extends to 60 degrees latitude). There are also many seas (smaller branches of an ocean). Seas are often partly enclose d by land. The largest seas are the South China Sea, the Caribbean Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea.

The following table shows the approximate area of sea with their approximate depth.

About 2/3 of the earth’s surface is covered with water of oceans and sea. They are life sources for many plants and animals and playing a crucial role in the chemical and biological balance of life on the planet. But increasing pollution has not left them free from pollutants. Increase of these pollutants in such amount that conditions of sea changes physically, chemically and biologically is called Marine pollution.

The main cause of Marine pollution or sea pollution is discharge of waste substances into sea.

The habitats of marine mammals and fish have been degraded severely with pollution responsible for the mass deaths of fish, mammals and corals. Day-by-day increasing pollutants like organochlorine, pesticides, fertilizers, oils and a range of other toxic pollutants accumulates with in fishes and through them to man to cause reproductive disorders.

Pollution and warm ocean waters have also degraded coral reefs in several areas. Due to agricultural wastes run off and waste water; low oxygen dead zones are developed in coastal ocean waters. Excess N 2 has promoted the growth of algae, which promotes toxic organisms like cholera.

According to a rough estimate, about 12000 tonnes of lead, 17000 tonnes of copper, 70,000 tonnes of zinc, 8000 tonnes of arsenic, 900 tonnes of barium, 70000 tonnes of manganese, 6000 tonnes of chromium, 3800 tonnes of antimony, 17000 tonnes of iron, 7000 tonnes of mercury and 4600 tonnes of tin are discharged per year into the sea without any dilution.

The industrial wastes loaded with toxic substances such as acids, alkalies, pesticides, oils, varnishes, plastics, petro­chemicals, rubber, paints, and wastes of paper, soap, sugar, distillery, mine drainage, tannery, cyanides and radioactive substances pollute heavily causing fish killing in different coasts of different nations.

One of the commonest pollutants of the sea is raw or treated sewage. Over burden of these sewage cause prolific breeding of minute plants near the sea surface preventing the sunlight from reaching deep in the sea. As a result photosynthesis is either reduced or stopped in deep water plants and plants starts taking is O 2 and giving out CO 2 .

Thus using up more oxygen they die in large amount and decomposed by bacteria, causing further decrease in oxygen level. As a result of this decrease in O 2 level, fish and other animals start to die. This complete phenomenon is known as “eutrophication” .

The pollution due to nitrogen, mainly from agricultural run-off and wastewater has almost tripled the occurrence of low oxygen dead zones in past 30 years.

Another major source for sea pollution is agricultural waste.

Many fertilizers like DDT tends to get more and more concentrated as taken by higher consumers of a food chain e.g., fishes, growing in sea water with 0.1 part of DDT per billions part of water will have about 57 mg. of DDT per kg of body weight in higher animals. Other pesticides such as aldrin, endrin and dieldrin are even more dangerous and not biodegradable like DDT.

DDT level increase to 800 mg/kg. for large fishes which feed on these fish. When such small fish migrate from one sea to other also affect there aquatic life where no farmers to make use of DDT.

Like fertilizers and pesticides other chemicals used for various purposes such as in fire extinguishers, coolants in refrigerator A.C. and in paints cause chemical pollution of sea. Like DDT their proportion increase we go up in the food chain.

In recent years the use of trisodium nitrilotriacletate (NTA) to make water soft and alkaline, in place of sodium tripolyphosphate, is increased. NTA is biodegradable but forms complexes with metals like Hg, Pb, Cd and As which are poisonous.

Chlorinated and hydrogenated hydrocarbons used for fire extinguishers, propellants and as solvents and PCB (poly chlorinated biphenyls) used in electrical insulation, coolant, paints and lacquers leaks about 25% into environment during transportation and application out of this 1/10th finds way in sea.

Essay # 2. Causes of Marine Pollution:

(i) Oil Pollution:

The most important pollution of sea is oil. Hence we will discuss it here in details. Oil pollution of the sea normally attracts the greatest attention because of its visibility. There are several sources though which the oil can reach to the sea. Every year, approximately 3.5 million metric tons of the oil is released into the world’s oceans.

Sources of Oil Pollution :

Sources of oil input to the marine environment are often divided into natural, sea-based and land-based sources with four main categories of pollutants discharges through natural seeps, discharges during the extraction of oil, discharges during the transportation of oil, and discharges during the consumption of oil (including both sea-based and land-based sources).

These sources result in an estimated average of 706 million gallons of oil pollution entering our oceans each year. Of this, less than 10% is from natural seepage of oil from the ocean floor and eroding of sedimentary rock. The remaining 644 million gallons comes from human activities.

Offshore drilling, as a result of accidental spills and other operations, accounts for just over 2%. Large tanker spills, account for just over 5%. Air pollution from cars and industry accounts for just over 13% of the total, as the hundreds of tons of hydrocarbons land in our oceans from particle fallout aided by the rain, which washes the particles from the air.

Almost 4 times the amount of oil which comes from the large tanker spills, 19%, is regularly released into the ocean from routine maintenance, which includes boat bilge discharge as well as other ship operations.

By far, the greatest cause of oil in our oceans comes from drains and urban street runoff. Much of this is from improper disposal of engine oil. An average oil change uses 5 quarts of oil, which alone can contaminate millions of gallons of fresh water.

Crude oil from tanker accidents and offshore drilling is most likely to cause problems. Most people have seen the images of oil-coated animals and the large oil slicks surrounding the tankers after an accident.

The oil will spread over large areas often continuing to cause harm for many years. When quantities of surface oil are sufficient to coat animal fur and feathers, the animals cannot stay warm and will ingest the toxic oil while attempting to clean themselves.

Many of these oiled animals die as a result of ingesting these toxins. Many marine animals that do not die quickly as a result of the oil spill may develop liver disease and reproductive and growth problems because of ingestion.

Even very small quantities of oil will spread, floating on the surface of the water covering vast areas of water. These thin sheets can kill marine larvae, which in turn will reduce the number of marine animals.

(ii) Industrial Wastes:

Thousands of other pollutants also end up in the ocean. More than 2.8 billion gallons of industrial wastewater per day are discharged directly into ocean waters, excluding electric utilities and offshore oil and gas effluents. Heavy metals released from industry, such as mercury and lead, are often found in marine life, including many of those often consumed by humans.

The longer- lived, larger fish such as king mackerel, tilefish, swordfish and shark often contain harmful levels of the pollutant mercury, which can harm the developing brain and nervous system of children and fetuses. The chemical contaminants like pesticides, pharmaceutical agents, and biological contaminants like bacteria, viruses, and protozoa also found their way to sea.

Dioxins from the pulp and paper bleaching process can cause genetic chromosomal degradation in marine animals and may even cause cancer in humans.

PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl), which usually comes from older electrical equipment, typically causes reproduction problems in most marine organisms. Poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are another source of marine toxic pollution and typically come from oil pollution and burning wood and coal.

Ship industry has caused a great deal of damage to sensitive marine environments. A typical 3000 ship passenger can produce 255,000 gallons of wastewater and 30,000 gallons of sewage every day. All of this waste is normally discharged directly into the ocean.

This waste can contain bacteria, pathogens, medical waste, oils, detergents, cleaners, heavy metals, harmful nutrients (nitrogen amongst others) and other substances. These substances can be brought back to coastal areas as well as cause serious damage to the aquatic life in the sea, including posing a risk for contaminating seafood.

Nitrogen compounds can also contribute to environmentally hazardous algae blooms. Typically 75—85% of the solid waste from a ship is incinerated at sea adding to sea pollution as the toxins and ash settles back into the ocean.

Once in 1985 at Haji port of Bombay, about 80,000 fishes are were found dead due to industrial effluents containing cyanide irons and mercury. Due to mercury-poisoned fishes, about 20,000 people in Japan fell sick and many died in 1978. The disease was given the name Minamata on the name of the city of Japan.

Similar diseases due to metallic poisoning have already been reported by France, Belgium, England, Holland, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Ceylon. The compounds of mercury are highly toxic. In aquatic environment mercury gets converted into methyl mercury which accumulates in fish cells and through them in human beings.

Industrial effluents often contain metallic compounds. For example, Halifax, a small city in eastern Canada, discharged into its harbor during the 1990s about thirty-three tons of zinc and thirty-one tons of lead per year, with lesser amounts of copper and other metals.

These metals are held in the sediment in a relatively inert from, but if stirred up into the water column, they become oxygenated and toxic. Tin is another common pollutant in harbors. It occurs as tributyltin (TBT), which is used as component of antifouling paints on the undersides of ships.

When taken up by shellfish, it accumulates in their tissues and has proved toxic to the shellfish and to organisms that consume them. The United States began to phase out TBT in 1988, and it will be banned internationally in 2008.

Industry also produces organic compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and various pesticides. These accumulate in the fatty tissue of plants and animals low in the food chain, and as they pass through the food web to larger and long-lived animals, there is an increase in concentration of the substances in their fat, a process known as bioaccumulation.

The St. Lawrence River, which drains the Great lakes, has accumulated large amounts of organochlorines, which have compiled in the tissues of Beluga whales. Many animals have tumors and disease. There is mounting evidence that chronic exposure to contaminants causes suppression of the immune responses of marine mammals. Similar problems have occurred with seals in the Baltic Sea.

Almost all rivers of the world are highly polluted and they carry the domestic sewage and mixture of industrial effluents into the sea without any treatment.

(iii) Agricultural Wastes :

Another serious type of marine pollution is nutrient pollution. This pollution is caused primarily from agricultural runoff that contains fertilizers and growth stimulants as well as from airborne nitrogen compounds that comes from automobile exhaust, industrial pollution and ammonia from manure. These cause eutrophic (over nutrient) conditions in coastal areas.

The main cause of eutrophication is excess nitrogen run-off from farm fertilizers, sewage and industrial pollutants. It reduces water clarity and depletes oxygen.

Reduced water clarity can starve sea grasses and algae that live in corals due to lack of light, which results in reducing their growth or killing them. While wind and waves aerate surface waters, the pycnocline layer acts as a barrier to oxygen exchange in bottom waters.

In major rivers, excess nutrients can be added as a result of fertilizer runoff, sewage, animal feed-runoff, or air pollution. The phytoplankton consumes these nutrients and oxygen which, in turn, causes a decrease in the amount of dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus in the water body. As the nutrients become depleted, the algae can no longer survive creating red tids.

The dead phytoplankton sinks to the bottom of the water column where they are consumed by decomposers. Since these decomposers break down the algae using dissolved oxygen. Resulting low oxygen levels can be detrimental to fish health; if dissolved oxygen drops to below 2 mg/1, mass fish kills can result.

This is known as hypoxia. The areas in which hypoxia has occurred are known as Dead Zones. Dead zones have been a factor in the Gulf of Mexico and Chesapeake Bay on the U.S. east coast, and are now spreading to other bodies of water, including the Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Adriatic Sea, Gulf of Thailand and Yellow Sea. There are now nearly 150 dead zones around the globe with some extending 27,000 square miles.

(iv) Marine Garbage :

Marine garbage disposal is another major form of ocean pollution. The world’s oceans are a virtual dumping ground for trash. Sometimes the garbage includes fishing nets, plastics and household garbage.

Garbage in the oceans is a serious issue as fish entangle themselves in fishing nets and animals sometimes eat trash products and die. There are numerous examples of dolphins, sharks and whales entangling themselves in fishing nets and dying from oxygen starvation.

Marine garbage can often enter into animal gut; plastic pop tab rings accidentally strangle animals and so forth. Controlling this form of pollution is important to maintain a healthy ocean ecosystem.

Even simple plastic bags can have large pollutive impacts within the ocean. In one case, a deceased sperm whale was found to have a plastic balloon blocking its digestive system. The whale died from inability to process its food and died of starvation. Plastics can also have negative impacts to boats if they accidentally plug water intake lines.

(v) Sewage Disposal in Ocean :

Sewage is yet another major source of marine pollution. Typically, the problem with sewage is that it causes massive nutrient loading in the ocean ecosystem. Nutrient loading triggers algal blooms in the water leading to the loss of dissolved oxygen. After the depletion of oxygen levels, many organisms in the ocean die from being unable to breathe properly.

The waste water release due to washing our clothes, faces, dishes and cattle, is ultimately headed to the sea. This includes everything from our homes (toilets, washing machines, bathtubs, dishwashers and so forth), industrial effluents and even chemicals such as paints and fertilizers that we dispose of down the drains.

(vi) Marine Debris :

Marine beaches serve as natural traps for marine debris. Globally, the most common materials are plastics, followed by glass and metal. The chief dangers to marine life result from the ingestion of these fragments, which may block the gut, and from entangling, which may cause suffocation or prevent locomotion and feeding.

In a survey of U.S. beaches close to urban centers, cigarette butts were the most abundant debris, followed by packing items (boxes, bags, caps, and lids), medical waste, and sewage. A high proportion of this material reached the sea by way of sewers. Even street litter can be washed into surface drains and then to the sea.

The dumping of sewage and waste by ships is another source. Public revulsion at the state U.S. beaches was a key factor in the enactment of stronger environmental protection laws, like the Ocean Dumping Ban Act of 1988 that prohibited the dumping of sewage into the ocean. On sites more remote from cities, pieces of rope and netting are the most common types of marine debris.

Essay # 3. Effects of Marine Pollution :

Apart from causing eutrophication a large amount of organic wastes can also result in the development of ‘red tides’ . These are phytoplankton blooms of such intensity that the whole area is discoloured. Many important, commercially important marine species are also killed due to clogging of gills or other structures.

When liquid oil is spilled on the sea, it spreads over the surface of the water to form a thin film called and oil slick. The rate of spreading and the thickness of the film depend on the sea temperature, winds, currents, and the nature of the oil.

Oil slicks damage marine life to a large extent. Salt marshes and mangrove swamps are likely to trap oil and the plants, which from the basis of these ecosystems, thus suffer. For salt-marsh plants, oil slicks can affect the flowering, fruiting and germination.

If liquid oil contaminates a bird’s plumage, its water-repellent properties are lost. Water then penetrates the plumage and displaces the air trapped between the feathers and the skin. This air layer is necessary as it provides buoyancy and thermal insulation.

With this, the plumage becomes waterlogged and the birds may sink and drown. Even if this does not happen, the loss of thermal insulation results in exhaustion of food reserves in an attempt to maintain body temperature, often followed by death.

Drill cuttings dumped on the seabed create anoxic conditions and result in the production of toxic sulphides in the bottom sediment thus eliminating the benthos fauna.

Fish and shellfish production facilities can also be affected by oil slicks. However, the most important commercial damage can come from ‘tainting’ which imparts an unpleasant flavor to fish and seafood and is detectable even at extremely low levels of contamination. This reduces the market value of seafood.

Some other Effects of Marine Pollution are:

(i) Decomposition of organic matter causes a drop in dissolved oxygen, particularly in calm weather and sheltered bays. This can cause the death of marine plants and animals, and may lead to change in biodiversity.

(ii) Effluent, rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, results in ‘eutrophication’ (over fertilization), which may cause algal blooms. These blooms can discolour the water, clog fish gills, or even be toxic, e.g., red tides. Microbial breakdown of dead algae can cause oxygen deficiencies.

(iii) Pathogenic microorganisms cause gastric and ear-nose-throat infections, hepatitis, and even cholera and typhoid. Filter feeding animals (e.g. mussels, clams, oysters) concentrate pathogens in their gut, so eating shellfish from polluted waters is a health risk.

(iv) Effects from industrial discharges in South Africa are generally limited to the area next to be discharge (the mixing zone). Water quality guidelines specify maximum levels of pollutants allowed in the receiving water.

(v) Oil spills prevent respiration in marine plants and animals.

(vi) In seabirds and mammals it can cause a breakdown in their thermal insulation.

(vii) Pesticides, such as DDT, and other persistent chemicals e.g., PCBs, accumulate in the fatty tissue of animals. These chemicals can cause reproductive failure in marine mammals and birds.

(viii) Ships often paint their hulls with anti-fouling substances, e.g., tributyl-tin or TBT, which prevents growth of marine organisms. These substances leach into water and, in high traffic areas such as harbors and marinas, can affect animal life.

(ix) Plastics kill many marine animals. Turtles, for example, often swallow floating plastic bags, mistaking them for jellyfish. Animals are often strangled when they become entangled with plastic debris.

Essay # 4. Policies to Protect the Marine Environment :

With the growing scope for national action, the need for regional action has also increased. Regional co-operation can be very cost effective in areas such as monitoring tanker traffic tracking down oil slicks, reinforcing inspection of ships, and providing mutual assistance in the case of emergencies.

Europe took a lead in this respect with the 1969 Bonn Agreement for the North Sea, the 1974 Agreements on the Baltic and on the North West Atlantic, and the 1976 Agreement on the Mediterranean Sea. More recently, it extended this lead with the revision of the Bonn agreement and the adoption of the Pairs Memorandum on Port State Control.

Action would be strengthened, however, if the authorities of a port state were in an effective position to initiate proceedings against tankers that discharge oil pollution into the economic zone of the port state or even into the economic zone of another state.

This is recognized in the new law of the Sea Convention. Regional co-operation could lead to agreements under which authorities in the states party to it would agree to assist each other in prosecuting tankers which violate international pollution prevention laws in their economic pollution prevention laws in their economic zones.

In effect, this would introduce the principle of non-discrimination, long advocated by OECD, into the field of marine pollution with violations of the law anywhere in the area being subject to prosecution in all ports of the area. It would greatly increase the effectiveness of measures taken by coastal states against ships that deliberately release oil at sea.

While the scope of national action and potential for regional action has increased, action at the international level remains vital. As oil is transported on a world-wide basis, most coastal states cannot reasonably impose measures on tankers visiting their harbors unless other states agree to do the same.

Moreover, oil transportation is to a large extent controlled by multinational corporations, and they can operate in various ways that make it difficult to pinpoint their liability, as the French authorities discovered with the amoco Cadiz.

Concerted international action started in 1954 with the “Convention of the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil.” and this was followed by an impressive series of conventions negotiated mostly within the framework of the IMO.

International action has been successful because these conventions were ratified ultimately by most of the major shipping nations-although there are a few outstanding exceptions such as Greece, Panama, and the United States.

It is a slow process, however, it took 10 years for the 1973 Convention on the Prevention of Pollution of the sea to enter into force and when it did only two of its parts came into force and they affected only 68 percent of the gross tonnage of the world fleet.

Nevertheless, this Convention is very significant, because it deals with concrete techniques and measures to reduce oil releases to the sea. In particular, it provides for the creation of reception facilities, the operation tankers with segregated ballast and crude oil washing and the use of oil separators.

With its entry into force in 1983, one can expect to see a significant reduction in oil pollution of the sea stemming from routine operations.

The 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea is potentially the most important Convention for protection of the marine environment. It gives a special role to the coastal states in protecting their economic zones. It also gives enforcement powers to the port states and the coastal states in case of pollution incident and also in case vessels violate applicable international rules and standards relating to seaworthiness.

Between 1969 and 1984, ship-owners liability was reduced fourfold because of inflation. In 1969, the liability of the owner of a new 210,000 grt tanker was 71 percent of the value of the ship: in 1983 it was only 27 percent Increasing the liability of ship-owners for oil pollution at sea would no doubt, help to keep down accidental oil spills.

The principles in the Law of the Sea Convention will need to be developed and enforced at the national level, and states in regions such as Western Europe or the North Sea will have to examine and as far as possible, harmonize legal and practical measures to better protect their economic zones.

Tanker traffic in Western Europe is nearly always in national waters and most of it goes to Western European ports. A number of important states may not ratify this Convention, but all states will probably find it desirable to adopt environmental policies that reflect their new rights and duties in their economic zones.

(i) Floating Particulate Petroleum Residues :

A geographical plot of the location at which samples of floating particulate petroleum residues were collected clearly reflects the contribution to MAPMOPP from national and regional programs of marine pollution monitoring.

These programs provided detailed data for the North Sea and Norwegian Sea, both coasts of North America and the seas around Japan. In addition, data were collected along several transects of the North Atlantic and in the mid-Pacific. On the other hand, very few samples were collected south of the equator.

(ii) Seas Around Japan and Southeast Asia :

The most detailed study of dissolved dispersed petroleum residues during MAPMOPP was carried out in the seas around Japan.

As was the case with the Mediterranean data, two sub-populations were present, and the general level of contamination as indicated by the higher one was 0.19p.g/. This is remarkably low for an area through which there is a very large volume of tanker and ship traffic and where the data for oil slicks and floating tar indicated that high levels of pollution were present.

The highest levels of contamination in this region were in the waters east of Tokyo and Yokohama and the Sea of Japan, Concentration in the South China Sea and in the Strait of Malacca were 0.17 and O.I3jag/l, respectively. The latter, in particular, as a surprisingly low level in view of the massive amounts of oil that are transported through this very narrow passage.

(iii) Indian Ocean :

Data for dissolved dispersed petroleum residues in the India Ocean were clustered around the coastline of India and along a single transect between the Strait of Malacca and South Africa. This set of data contained very few values below 10 ng/l. While some values exceeded 300 µg/l (GM = 8.9 µg/l).

This suggests either that this region was much more highly polluted than any other area of the world ocean or that the data are suspect. Nevertheless, there was a tremendous difference between the concentration of dissolved/dispersed petroleum residues along the west coast (GM = 86.4 µg/l) and those along the east coast (GM = 0.7 µg/l) of India.

This, presumably, is a consequence of the tanker lane that passes along the west coast of India and across the Bay of Bengal en route to the Strait of Malacca and of the monsoonal circulation of surface water in this area.

(iv) North Sea:

MAPMOPP data for the North Sea were collected at a group of stations in the North Sea oil fields and along lines of stations extending from Norway to the Shetland Islands and across the Skagerrak to Denmark. These data were unique in that 81 of the 90 values were reported as zero and the remaining 9 were reported as either 0.1 or 0.5 (J.g/1. consequently).

A rigorous statistical analysis was not possible, although the data suggest that the general level of contamination in the North Sea is remarkably low for a semienclosed sea which is not only bordered by the most highly populated and industrialized countries of northern Europe but is also an area containing numerous offshore oil drilling platforms.

(v) Baffin Bay :

Most of the samples collected from Baffin Bay and Lancaster Sound contained dissolved/dispersed petroleum residues at concentrations less than 0.1 µg/l and none exceeded 1 µg/l.

Although this value was biased by many of the samples having been collected along the east coast of Baffin Island in areas where natural seepage of petroleum is known to occur the impact of this seepage on the water column is localized and has little effect on the levels of contamination in the region as a whole.

Furthermore, the surrounding land masses are only very sparsely inhabited, there is very little shipping and the sea is covered with ice during much of the year. Consequently, the major input of fluorescing non-polar organic compounds to this region is atmospheric fallout of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons produced from high temperature combustion of petroleum and other organic materials.

Therefore, Baffin Bay is one of the least polluted regions of the northern hemisphere, and the background level of dissolved/dispersed petroleum residues there can be taken as a baseline against which the levels of contamination in other areas of the world ocean can be compared.

(vi) North American East Coast :

The MAPMOPP data for the east coast of North America indicated that the general level of contamination in this area was 0.09 µg/l. It is noteworthy that the level of contamination in this area of concentrated fishing and active shipping should be the same as that observed in Baffin Bay.

(vii) Global Assessment :

MAPMOPP data for dissolved/dispersed petroleum residues were highly regional in character and so sparse over such enormous expanses of the world ocean that it is not possible to obtain a complete assessment of the levels of these substances on a global scale. Nevertheless, the data suggest some general trends.

Analysis of the data for the eastern hemisphere by 20° × 20° squares of latitude and longitude not only pointed out the paucity of the data but indicated an extensive area in the southwest Pacific where the level of contamination by dissolved/dispersed petroleum residues was around 0.1 µg/l, while somewhat higher concentrations were present in the waters adjacent to Japan.

Concentrations seemed to be remarkably low around Japan considering the amount of oil consumed in that country and were only slightly higher in the Strait of Malacca where tanker and other ship traffic converges while passing into the Pacific from the Indian Ocean.

Concentrations in the northern part of Indian Ocean were very much higher and reached 0.7 µg/l in the Bay of Bengal and along the east coast of India. The highest concentrations of all were found along the west coast of India where the geometric mean as 86.4 µg/l. Such high concentrations suggest that the water contained dispersed particles or droplets of oil from tankers that passed through the area.

Essay # 5. Control of Marine Pollution :

The control of marine pollution is really a difficult task, since it involves national as well as international issues.

Several methods are used to deal with accidental discharge of oil, but as with all pollutants, the only effective measure for controlling contamination by oil of the aquatic environment is the prevention of avoidable spills and releases. Bioremediation is considered a useful tool in which macro organisms are used to degrade the oil that has spread over the large surface. 

Cleaning oil from surface waters and contaminates beaches is a time- consuming and labor-intensive process. The natural process of emulsification of oil in the water can be accelerated through the use of chemical dispersants, which can be sprayed on the oil.

A variety of slick-tickers in which a continuous belt of absorbent to extract the oil have been designed. Rocks, barbor walls can be cleaned with high-pressure steam or dispersants after which the surface must be hosed down.

One way of reducing the pollution load on marine waters is through the introduction of sewage treatment plants. This will reduce the biological oxygen demand (BOD) of the final product before it is discharged to the receiving waters. Various stages of treatment such as primary, secondary or advanced can be used, depending on the quality of the effluent that is required to be treated.

(i) Primary Treatment:

These treatment plants use physical processes such as screening and sedimentation to remove pollutants that will settle, float or are too large to pass through simple screening devices. This includes stones, sticks, rags or any such material that can clog up pipes.

A screen consists of parallel bars spaced 2-7 cm apart followed by a wire mesh with smaller openings is used to separate these kind of pollutants. The polluted material collected on the screens is used in a device called a comminuter, which grinds the coarse material into small pieces.

After screening the wastewater passes into a grit chamber. The detention time is chosen to be long enough to allow lighter, organic material to settle. From the grit chamber the sewage passes into a primary setting tank (also called as sedimentation tank), where the flow speed is reduced sufficiently to allow most of the suspended solids to settle out by gravity.

If the waste is to undergo only primary treatment it is then chlorinated to destroy bacteria and control odors after which the effluent is released. Primary treatment normally removes about 35% of the BOD and 60% of the suspended solids.

(ii) Secondary Treatment:

There are three commonly used approaches:

Trickling filters, activated sludge process, and oxidation ponds. Secondary treatment can remove at least 85% of the BOD. A trickling filter consists of a rotating distribution arm that sprays liquid wastewater over a circular bed of ‘fist size’ rocks or other coarse materials. The spaces between the rocks allow air to circulate easily so that aerobic conditions can be maintained.

The individual rocks in the bed are covered with a layer of slime, which consists of bacteria, fungi, algae, etc., which degrade the waste trickling through the bed. This slime periodically slides off individual rocks and is collected at the bottom of the filter along with the treated wastewater and is then passed on to the secondary setting tank where it is removed.

In the activated sludge process, the sewage is pumped into a large tank and mixed for several hours with bacteria-rich sludge and air bubbles to facilitate degradation by microorganisms. The water then goes into a sedimentation tank where most of the microorganisms settle out as sludge.

This sludge is then broken down in an anaerobic digester where methane-forming bacteria slowly convert the organic matter into carbon dioxide, methane, and other stable end products. The gas produced in the digester is 60% methane, which is valuable fuel and can be put to many uses within the treatment plant itself.

The digested sludge, which is still liquid, is normally pumped out onto sludge drying beds where evaporation and seepage remove the water. This dried sludge is potentially a good source of manure. Activated sludge tanks use less land area than trickling filters with equivalent performance.

They are also less expensive to construct than trickling filters and have fewer problems with flies and odor and can also achieve higher rates of BOD removal. Thus, although the operating costs are a little higher due to the expenses incurred on energy for running pumps and blowers, they are preferred over trickling filters.

Oxidation ponds are large shallow ponds approximately 1-2 m deep, where raw or partially-treated sewage is decomposed by microorganisms. They are easy to build and manage, accommodate large fluctuations in flow, and can provide treatment at a much lower cost. However, they require a large amount of land and hence can only be used where land is not a limitation.

(iii) Advanced Sewage Treatment:

This involves a series of chemical and physical processes that removes specific pollutants left in the water after primary and secondary treatment.

Sewage treatment plant effluents contain nitrates and phosphates in large amounts. These contribute to eutrophication. Thus, advanced treatment plants are designed to specifically remove these contaminants. These plants are very expensive to build and operate and so are rarely used.

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Ocean Pollution - Essay Samples And Topic Ideas For Free

Ocean pollution poses a dire threat to marine ecosystems and human health, driven by activities such as plastic disposal, chemical pollution, and oil spills. Essays could delve into the myriad sources of ocean pollution, exploring the scale and impact of contaminants like plastic debris, heavy metals, and agricultural runoff on marine life and coastal communities. Discussions might extend to the various international and national initiatives aimed at mitigating ocean pollution, including legal frameworks, technological innovations, and community-led conservation efforts. The discourse may also touch on the challenges and prospects of curbing ocean pollution, analyzing the effectiveness of current measures, and proposing holistic strategies that encompass policy, education, and technological advancements to foster a more sustainable interaction with marine environments. We have collected a large number of free essay examples about Ocean Pollution you can find in Papersowl database. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Ocean Pollution as a Major Problem

The Ocean is one of the major reasons why humans survive in this world. The Ocean provides us with water to drink and the fresh air we breathe. That's why the issue of ocean pollution is important and needs to be addressed as soon as possible. We depend on the ocean for so much in our life. Ocean pollution is becoming a major problem. Trash is piling up in our oceans but the question is, where is the trash coming […]

Ocean Pollution for the most Wildlife

The ocean is home to the most wildlife in the entire world. Every day people are destroying life in the ocean by polluting it. There are many different endangered animals in the ocean. Every day they are being killed off by man-made pollutants. The ocean covers more than eighty percent of the Earth so we should protect it by, being more conservative, recycling, and cleaning out the ocean (noaa.gov). Plastic pollution is deeply reflected on humans; over half of the […]

Plastic Pollution in the Oceans

“There is more microplastic in the ocean than there are stars in the Milky Way” (McCarthy). Many Americans consume plastic throughout the year and do not recycle all of it. The beaches are getting dirtier and dirtier but there is not much change going on. The wastes on the beaches, streets, and air are going into the ocean and harming the species. Pollution in the oceans is affecting the sea creatures because surfers are exposed to pathogens, sea turtles develop […]

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Ocean Pollution: Plastic

The topic that I chose to write about is ocean pollution, specifically plastic. I found a very interesting article by National Geographic that makes me wonder just how much plastic we use daily, and how much it affects marine life. According to the article, the Aquarium Conservation Partnership (ACP), comprising twenty-two aquariums in seventeen different states is pushing a campaign called "No Straw November". The campaign is a push to eliminate single-use plastic including plastic straws, bottles, and plastic in […]

Should the Government Regulate Ocean Pollution?

The government should regulate ocean pollution due to the fact they are one of the contributing factors to ocean pollution. Ocean pollution affects more than just the waterways. Marine life is decreasing day by day due to the amount of trash that builds up in our oceans. Agricultural fertilizer and climate change have also been afflicted in negative ways by the inconsiderate attitude towards our environment namely the ocean. From nuclear bomb testing to creating the Great Pacific garbage patch. […]

Plastic Pollution in the Ocean

All pollution is bad for the ocean and all the creatures in it. However, there is one material that is highly potent to the ocean, and that is plastic. It has many immensely negative effects on the ocean's wildlife. Thousands of marine animals die each year because of plastic debris. There are many ways that plastic can get to the ocean than you know. This has been an ongoing problem and still has not been stopped. Plastic was founded in […]

Ocean Pollution and a “dead Zone”

There is a “dead zone” the size of New Jersey in the Gulf of Mexico in which aquatic life cannot survive . There is a garbage patch the size of Texas in the Pacific Ocean. Dead zones and garbage patches are just some examples of the horrific effects that water pollution has on the life of all sorts. Every day, millions of sea critters, as well as humans, are victims to a harder life at the hand of pollution. With […]

Fight against Plastic Pollution

 Do you ever consider the life of the shopping bag you use to transport your groceries or the plastic straw that seems to come standard now with most beverages? “A bag that is used on average for 15 minutes, yet it could take 100 to 300 years to fragment” according to SAS.org. These often one-time-use plastics do more harm than good when looking at their long half-life and the effects on our environment, even though their implementation into the market […]

Plastic Pollution in the Philippines

The top countries that dispose of the most plastic are all in Asia the Philippines is the third. What is the problem, the Philippines are using too many plastic objects. Who has the pollution affected humans, food sources including, land animals, crops, and wildlife? Solutions what can the Philippines do to help the water pollution and save their and our world. What is the problem? “The Philippines generates 2.7 million tonnes of plastic waste annually and 20 percent – or […]

Pollution in the Pacific Ocean

Pollution has become an ongoing problem throughout the Earth. From air pollution to waste pollution, the Earth is getting destroyed from the carelessness of others. More importantly, plastic is one of the leading problems of waste pollution, as it can take hundreds of years to break down, if at all. As the plastic industries grow, so does the amount of waste that is created, and that trash has to go somewhere. Many don't tend to think about where their trash […]

Campaign against Plastic Pollution

Plastic has become a necessity in man’s life all around the world. Plastics are in everything; your toothbrush, mechanical pencil, cell phone, milk jug, and even your face wash. This “versatile, lightweight, flexible, moisture-resistant, strong, and relatively inexpensive” substance has dire consequences on the ocean environment because it is extremely durable and non-biodegradable (Le Guern, 2018). Consequently, plastic is found floating around in our oceans for decades. Some countries are enforcing taxes, laws, and bans on microplastics (such as plastic […]

Plastic Pollution in Tho Ocean: Facts and Information

To many, the ocean may just serve as a place for water recreation and fishing. However, without the ocean, the Earth would not have the air we breathe. The ocean produces over half the world’s oxygen and absorbs fifty times more carbon than the atmosphere. Covering more than 70 percent of the earth’s surface we truly have only one “World Ocean”. Home to 97 percent of the planet’s water supply saltwater moves from one part of the ocean to another […]

Plastic Pollution and its Effect on the Thermal Capacity of Seawater

The findings of this study indicate that as expected the natural albedo of seawater is susceptible to positive and negative forcing by pollution and natural agents. Comparison of oil and gas pollutants showed inverse temperature change profiles, with the oil sample heating more rapidly and cooling more slowly than seawater, while the plastic sample heated slower and cooled faster than the control. Regarding oil pollution, reports have shown that while a rainbow film of oil over the surface of the […]

Beach Clean-Up Study Shows Global Scope of Plastic Pollution

Have you ever been to the beach and seen trash laying there? Most people who see trash on the beach pick it up and throw it away. But, there are some people who see it and think “It’s just a little bit of trash, I’m sure it’s fine”. If you're one of those people I suggest you stop. There is so much waste in the ocean that destroys the life of marine animals. Not only does it hurt them and […]

Kinds of Pollution: the Future of Environment

Can you stay without light in your life?! Our environment is our light. God created the surroundings in their most beautiful form, but when a shadow got here over this light, our surroundings grew to become darkish and this shadow is us. The environment includes the living and non-living things that an organism interacts with or has an impact on it. Living elements that an organism interacts with are known as biotic elements: animals, plants, etc., abiotic elements are non-living […]

Mercury Pollution in our Ocean

Mercury pollution is everywhere, it's in the air that animals breath and we breath as well. It's also in our land and inside of our beautiful sea. Mercury is a metal that's heavy and is cycled throughout the earth. Mercy pollution is world wide and a global problem. The reason mercury pollution is an issue is because it hurts fish. The fish and shell fish breath in the water through there gills which is inside of the water that they […]

Plastic Pollution in Ocean

Abstract The use of plastic is a part and parcel of modern life. Because of its non-biodegradable nature, plastic garbage creates hazards both on the surface and in the water of seas and oceans. Inhabitants of the oceans are endangered due to plastic pollution. Moreover, the presence of tiny plastic particles in the marine food chain also raises questions about human health and food security. The UN Environment Assembly passed a resolution in Dec. 2017 to eliminate plastic pollution in […]

Plastic Pollution of Earth’s Oceans

Introduction Approximately 300 million tons of plastic is produced every year (Cressey 2016). It's disposable, yet long-lasting nature makes it critical to pose the question “where does all this plastic end up?” A large quantity of the plastic produced eventually ends up floating on the surface of the ocean- some even reach the seafood humans eat (Rochman, 2016). Plastic is a cheap, versatile, disposable material that does not degrade easily, making it a perfect candidate for a variety of uses […]

The Negative Effect of Single Use Plastic

One of the largest producers of plastic wastes in Asia is the Philippines. According to PhilStar Global (2018), about 79 percent of branded plastic residual wastes came from food packaging, followed by household and personal care products with 12 and eight percent, respectively. One of the solutions that the researchers have in mind to minimize producing plastic waste is the banning of single-use plastic. The researchers envision their campus free from single-use plastic and free from its harmful effects on […]

Autoethnography Example: a Personal Journey of Beach Cleanups Across Generations

About a year ago, a group of my friends and myself would go to the beach frequently. We would go just about every weekend. Before settling in and having a good time, we would walk up and down the shore of the beach. We would play a game involving trash that we found on the beach. The game was simple. Whoever found the least amount of trash in 20 minutes would have to run as fast as possible into the […]

The Influence of Ocean Exploration on Perceptions of External Control

The concept of an external locus of control, where individuals attribute their experiences and outcomes to forces beyond their personal influence, can be uniquely examined through the lens of ocean exploration. The vast, mysterious, and often unpredictable nature of the ocean provides a rich metaphor for understanding how external factors shape human perceptions and behaviors. By delving into the dynamics of ocean exploration, we can gain deeper insights into how external forces influence our beliefs and actions. Ocean exploration, much […]

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How To Write an Essay About Ocean Pollution

Understanding ocean pollution.

Before starting an essay about ocean pollution, it's essential to understand its causes, effects, and the current state of our oceans. Ocean pollution refers to the contamination of the oceans with harmful or potentially harmful materials, like plastic waste, chemicals, and untreated sewage. Begin your essay by outlining the major sources of ocean pollution, which include land-based sources like agricultural runoff, industrial discharges, and coastal activities, as well as ocean-based sources like oil spills and marine debris. Discuss the extent of the problem, highlighting key statistics and studies that reveal the severity of ocean pollution and its impact on marine ecosystems, wildlife, and human health.

Developing a Thesis Statement

A strong essay on ocean pollution should be anchored by a clear, focused thesis statement. This statement should present a specific viewpoint or argument about ocean pollution. For instance, you might discuss the long-term ecological impacts of plastic pollution, analyze the effectiveness of current policies and regulations in reducing ocean pollution, or argue for a specific approach or solution to tackle this global issue. Your thesis will guide the direction of your essay and provide a structured approach to your analysis.

Gathering Supporting Evidence

Support your thesis with relevant data, research findings, and examples. This might include scientific studies on the effects of pollution on marine life, reports from environmental organizations, and examples of successful initiatives to reduce ocean pollution. Use this evidence to support your thesis and build a persuasive argument. Be sure to consider different perspectives and address potential counterarguments to your thesis.

Analyzing the Impact of Ocean Pollution

Dedicate a section of your essay to analyzing the impact of ocean pollution. Discuss various aspects such as its effects on marine biodiversity, the disruption of food chains, the impact on coastal communities, and economic consequences. Explore both the immediate and long-term effects of pollution on the ocean environment and the challenges in mitigating these impacts.

Concluding the Essay

Conclude your essay by summarizing the main points of your discussion and restating your thesis in light of the evidence provided. Your conclusion should tie together your analysis and emphasize the significance of addressing ocean pollution for the health of our planet. You might also want to suggest areas for future research, policy development, or public action to combat ocean pollution.

Reviewing and Refining Your Essay

After completing your essay, review and refine it for clarity and coherence. Ensure that your arguments are well-structured and supported by evidence. Check for grammatical accuracy and ensure that your essay flows logically from one point to the next. Consider seeking feedback from peers, educators, or environmental experts to further improve your essay. A well-written essay on ocean pollution will not only demonstrate your understanding of the issue but also your ability to engage with and analyze complex environmental challenges.

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Essays on Marine Pollution

ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRY

Marine pollution.

Marine pollution is a combination of chemicals and trash, most of which comes from land sources and is washed or blown into the ocean. This pollution results in damage to the environment, to the health of all organisms, and to economic structures worldwide.

Biology, Ecology, Earth Science, Oceanography

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Marine pollution is a growing problem in today’s world. Our ocean is being flooded with two main types of pollution: chemicals and trash.

Chemical contamination, or nutrient pollution, is concerning for health, environmental, and economic reasons. This type of pollution occurs when human activities, notably the use of fertilizer on farms, lead to the runoff of chemicals into waterways that ultimately flow into the ocean. 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. The negative effects on health and the environment caused by algal blooms hurt local fishing and tourism industries.

Marine trash encompasses all manufactured products—most of them plastic —that end up in the ocean. Littering, storm winds, and poor waste management all contribute to the accumulation of this debris , 80 percent of which comes from sources on land. Common types of marine debris include various plastic items like shopping bags and beverage bottles, along with cigarette butts, bottle caps, food wrappers, and fishing gear. Plastic waste is particularly problematic as a pollutant because it is so long-lasting. Plastic items can take hundreds of years to decompose.

This trash poses dangers to both humans and animals. Fish become tangled and injured in the debris , and some animals mistake items like plastic bags for food and eat them. Small organisms feed on tiny bits of broken-down plastic , called micro plastic , and absorb the chemicals from the plastic into their tissues. Micro plastics are less than five millimeters (0.2 inches) in diameter and have been detected in a range of marine species, including plankton and whales. When small organisms that consume micro plastics are eaten by larger animals, the toxic chemicals then become part of their tissues. In this way, the micro plastic pollution migrates up the food chain , eventually becoming part of the food that humans eat.

Solutions for marine pollution include prevention and cleanup. Disposable and single-use plastic is abundantly used in today’s society, from shopping bags to shipping packaging to plastic bottles. Changing society’s approach to plastic use will be a long and economically challenging process. Cleanup, in contrast, may be impossible for some items. Many types of debris (including some plastics ) do not float, so they are lost deep in the ocean. Plastics that do float tend to collect in large “patches” in ocean gyres. The Pacific Garbage Patch is one example of such a collection, with plastics and micro plastics floating on and below the surface of swirling ocean currents between California and Hawaii in an area of about 1.6 million square kilometers (617,763 square miles), although its size is not fixed. These patches are less like islands of trash and, as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says, more like flecks of micro plastic pepper swirling around an ocean soup. Even some promising solutions are inadequate for combating marine pollution. So-called “ biodegradable ” plastics often break down only at temperatures higher than will ever be reached in the ocean.

Nonetheless, many countries are taking action. According to a 2018 report from the United Nations, more than sixty countries have enacted regulations to limit or ban the use of disposable plastic items. The National Geographic Society is making this content available under a Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-SA license . The License excludes the National Geographic Logo (meaning the words National Geographic + the Yellow Border Logo) and any images that are included as part of each content piece. For clarity the Logo and images may not be removed, altered, or changed in any way.

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Essays on Ocean Pollution

Once you learn the figures of ocean pollution you can't help but feel devastated, but this means that you found a highly relevant essay topic – ocean pollution essay writing is increasingly popular nowadays. We all know that oceans are polluted with plastic, but do you know to what extent? The answer is beyond insane – in the year 2020 there are over 5 trillion pieces of plastic in the oceans. It's hard to even imagine such a vast amount, so realizing just how polluted our oceans are is heartbreaking. Ocean pollution essays explore this issue in great detail and offer ways to reduce pollution. There are a lot of great essays on ocean pollution out there, so we compiled some ocean pollution essay samples for you to shuffle through. Our samples will make writing essays faster and easier!

Plastics have been an integral part of human life. It is one of the most prevalent materials in the world. Plastics are commonly used by industries for packaging purposes (Fanshawe Parsons 5). The Impact on Oceans Studies show that the marine environment carried the biggest mass of the plastic debris...

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In the current years, the oceans have experienced very high stages of pollution. Ocean pollution is an issue that is now not only difficult to describe however also extremely difficult to solve. Research conducted by Upstream, an organisation that addresses waste management practices, indicated intensive plastic production and disposal poses huge...

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Essay on Ocean Pollution

Students are often asked to write an essay on Ocean Pollution in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Ocean Pollution

Ocean pollution: an overview.

Ocean pollution is a grave issue affecting our planet. It involves harmful substances, like plastic and chemicals, entering the ocean, damaging marine life and ecosystems.

Causes of Ocean Pollution

Effects of ocean pollution.

Ocean pollution harms marine life. Animals ingest plastic or get entangled in it, often leading to their death. It also disrupts the balance of marine ecosystems.

Preventing Ocean Pollution

We can prevent ocean pollution by reducing waste, recycling more, and supporting laws that protect oceans. Everyone’s small efforts can make a big difference.

250 Words Essay on Ocean Pollution

Introduction.

The primary culprits of ocean pollution are industrial waste, plastic debris, oil spills, and agricultural runoff. Industries often dump waste directly into oceans, releasing toxic chemicals that harm marine life. Plastics, due to their non-biodegradable nature, remain in the ocean for centuries, often ingested by marine animals, leading to their demise. Oil spills have devastating effects, smothering marine life and damaging habitats. Agricultural runoff, rich in fertilizers and pesticides, can cause harmful algal blooms, depleting oxygen levels and creating “dead zones”.

Impacts of Ocean Pollution

Ocean pollution’s impacts are multifaceted. It wreaks havoc on marine biodiversity, leading to population declines and species extinction. It also disrupts the food chain, as toxins accumulate in larger predators through bioaccumulation. In addition, ocean pollution affects human health, as we consume seafood contaminated with toxins.

In conclusion, ocean pollution is a grave issue that demands immediate attention. Sustainable practices, strict regulations, and public awareness are key to mitigating this crisis. As we rely heavily on oceans for sustenance and recreation, it is our collective responsibility to safeguard them for future generations.

500 Words Essay on Ocean Pollution

Introduction: the deepening crisis of ocean pollution.

Ocean pollution, a growing environmental concern, poses significant threats to marine ecosystems and human health. The ocean, which covers over 70% of the earth’s surface, is the lifeblood of our planet. It regulates climate, feeds millions of people, and is home to an incredible array of wildlife. However, the health of our oceans is under severe threat from anthropogenic activities.

The Sources of Ocean Pollution

Ocean pollution stems from numerous sources. The primary culprit is land-based activities, which account for approximately 80% of marine pollution. Industrial effluents, untreated sewage, agricultural run-off, and plastic waste are all discharged into rivers and ultimately flow into the oceans.

Impacts on Marine Ecosystems

The impacts of ocean pollution on marine ecosystems are profound and far-reaching. Plastic debris, for instance, entangles and injures marine animals. Many species, including sea turtles and seabirds, mistake plastic for food, leading to ingestion, malnutrition, and often death.

Chemical pollutants, on the other hand, can disrupt the reproductive processes of marine organisms. Heavy metals and other toxic substances bioaccumulate in marine food chains, posing health risks not only to marine life but also to humans consuming seafood.

Climate Change and Ocean Pollution

Addressing ocean pollution.

Addressing ocean pollution requires a multi-pronged approach. At the policy level, stricter regulations are needed for waste disposal and agricultural run-off. International cooperation is also essential to manage pollution from maritime activities.

Conclusion: The Urgent Call to Preserve Our Oceans

Ocean pollution is a complex and pressing issue that threatens the health of our planet. As we move forward, it is imperative that we view the oceans not as an endless resource and dumping ground, but as a vital ecosystem that needs our protection. Through a combination of policy, technology, and education, we can begin to turn the tide on ocean pollution.

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Plastic Waste and Its Effects on Marine Life Term Paper

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Oceans cover extensive portion of the planet. Moreover, numerous human activities take place in the oceans. Hence, they are prone to pollution. Harmful waste matters from industries are channeled into the oceans. Besides, people dump plastic wastes into the oceans. The wastes have severe impacts on marine community and human health. Plastic wastes, particularly microplastics alter eating habits of marine animals and lead to starvation. Besides, they expose human to breast and prostate cancers. Plastics are made from polycarbonates that contain a harmful compound known as bisphenol. Therefore, dumping of plastic materials in oceans contaminates water with bisphenol. Bisphenol alters the reproduction pattern of marine community and exposes human to disease like obesity. Besides, bisphenol has severe economic impacts on countries. It affects the fishing industry, and countries spend a lot of money to treat diseases that are related to bisphenol.

Introduction

Oceans cover the biggest part of the planet. However, many people do not appreciate the importance of oceans to human and marine life. Moreover, a majority of people do not understand the relationship between the earth’s system and oceans. Costanza (1999) alleges that oceans and coastal environment have fiscal value. Costanza (1999) argues that ocean and coastline biomes cater for the biggest share of the ecosystem’s services. Marine biomes such as coral reefs, coastal systems, and open oceans help to protract economic and human activities. Nevertheless, many people do not understand this reality.

Costanza (1999) argues that both the government and public do not appreciate the economic value of coastal and Ocean environments. One reason ocean and coastline biomes are prone to pollution is because they transcend national borders. Marine pollution includes agricultural runoff, industrial effluence, wind-blown rubbles and dirt, nutrient effluence and plastic wastes. Today, it is estimated that hundreds of metric tons of plastic wastes are channeled to the oceans on a daily basis. Indeed, at least 40% of the global ocean surfaces are covered with plastic wastes. This paper will discuss the effects of plastic wastes on marine and human life.

Overview of Plastic

Many people regard plastic bags as items designed to make their life comfortable. They use plastic bags to carry items as well as to preserve perishable foodstuffs. If not well discarded, the bags pose a significant threat to marine life. Ahn, Hong, Neelamani, Philip and Shanmugam (2006) argue that plastic has become a daily component of human life. They assert that plastic is not a bad thing if used well. According to Ahn et al. (2006), plastic facilitates treatment of patients suffering from diabetics and arthritis.

Besides, motorbike riders and construction workers use plastic to cover their heads. Nevertheless, when plastic waste is released into the oceans, it becomes a threat to both human and marine life. Sea turtles confuse plastic bags with jellyfish. In most cases, plastic waste is swept into the ocean by rain water. In addition, fishermen dispose of plastic waste into the oceans as they do fishing. According to the National Academy of Sciences, 85% of plastic wastes come from merchant ships. Ahn et al. (2006) posit that it is hard to enforce laws due to the nature of oceans.

Composition of Plastic and Microplastic

Daoji and Dag (2004) allege that there are different types of plastics based on method of polymerization. They claim that three kinds of plastics contribute to marine pollution. They include mega-plastics, microplastics, and macro-plastics (Daoji & Dag, 2004). According to Daoji and Dag (2004), mega- and microplastics are mainly found in the northern hemisphere. They are rare to find in remote islands. Microplastics and mega-plastics are found in shoes, packaging bags, and other household items that are either dumped in landfills or dropped from ships. Fishing nets also add to the composition of plastic wastes found in oceans. Microplastics refer to small fragments of plastic that are 5mm or less.

They arise from the disintegration of big plastic materials due to collision and other mechanical forces (Sheavly & Register, 2007). Examples of microplastics include grinding wastes and scours obtained from cosmetics products. In addition, the powder and pellets used to make plastic items constitute microplastics.

Primary and Secondary Effects of Microplastic on Marine Life

Microplastics have both physical and biological impacts on marine life. Many marine animals die because of consuming microplastics. Derraik (2002) argues that microplastics cover equal portion as planktonic organisms and residues. Thus, marine animals consume high amount of microplastics that make them suffer from internal blockages and abrasions. Moreover, microplastics expose marine community to numerous health dangers. Some microplastics contain chemicals that expose marine community to cancer threats and endocrine disturbances. As marine animals such as sea cucumbers continue to ingest microplastics, the plastics get fixed in their tissues (Derraik, 2002).

Eventually, animals that feed on sea cucumbers end up swallowing the microplastics. In addition, microplastics affect the feeding habits of small marine animals. Once the animals ingest microplastics, they feel satisfied, and this affects their rate of food intake. Thompson, Moore, Vom Saal and Swan (2009) argue that microplastics contain enormous persistent organic pollutants that are passed on to marine animals. Hence, microplastics affect not only marine animals that ingest them, but also the entire marine community that feed on aquatic organisms. Another effect of microplastics on the marine community is that they lead to uneven distribution of organisms. They lead to some marine organisms shifting to regions, which are less organically diverse, therefore affecting their survival.

Effects of Microplastics on Human Health and Economy

Apart from affecting marine life and marine community, microplastics have adverse effects on human health and economy. Microplastics contain antioxidants and plasticizers that are detrimental to human health. According to Hammer, Kraak and Parsons (2012), bisphenol; a chemical found in microplastics affects body functionalities. It stalls brain development and affects cognitive ability. Even though nutritionists argue that eating marine organisms like fish helps in brain development, they do not recognize that it may also prevent brain development, particularly if a person ingests microplastics that are embedded in fish.

In addition, some chemicals found in microplastics cause body and limbs deformity and compromise sexual development. Microplastics contain carcinogenic chemicals (Wright, Thompson & Galloway, 2013). Consequently, if ingested, they expose human to cancer. According to Wright et al. (2013), there are numerous cases of prostate and breast cancers that arise as a result of consumption of microplastics.

Microplastics affect the distribution of marine life, which acts as a major tourist attraction. Accumulation of microplastics in an area leads to death and migration of marine animals. Besides, tourists avoid eating shellfish and other marine animals once they suspect that they are harvested from polluted oceans. Eventually, tourists stop visiting a country, therefore affecting a country’s economy. The United Kingdom spends at least £1.5 million every year to clean its marine environment as a way to attract tourists (Cole, 2011). The country loses up to £499 million, which is collected from tourism industry. Apart from loss of tourism revenues, countries incur enormous costs in beach cleanups. For instance, the United Kingdom and France spend a lot of money to clean their coastlines every year.

Moreover, microplastics damage fishing gears and motors. Hence, fishing companies incur an enormous cost to repair or procure new fishing gears. Ivar do Sul and Costa (2014) argue that the nature of coastline and level of marine pollution affect housing prices. Houses that are situated in clean and plain coastlines are more expensive than those located in polluted and rugged coastlines. Consequently, microplastics and other plastic wastes affect the housing prices in many countries. In addition, countries incur health costs due to microplastics. As aforementioned, ingestion of microplastics exposes people to cancer. Hence, countries like the United States spend a lot of money to treat people suffering from breast and prostate cancers.

Challenges of Microplastics

The nature of microplastics makes it hard for countries to get rid of them. Some microplastics are too small in size such that they are hard to detect. In addition, microplastics come from numerous sources making them hard to eradicate. While it is possible to eliminate microplastics that emanate from degradation of secondary plastics, it is hard to get rid of primary microplastics (Cole, 2011). Primary microplastics are mainly found in personal care products and facial cleansers. They are small in size and hard to detect. The fact that we cannot prevent people from using cosmetics proves that it is hard to get rid of primary microplastics. Recently, it was discovered that wear and tear of synthetic materials also lead to formation of microplastics that are hard to eradicate. For instance, it is hard to control mechanical wear and tear in ships. Consequently, oceans will never be free from microplastics.

Overview and Levels of Bisphenol in the Ocean

Bisphenol refers to a carbon-based artificial compound used to manufacture plastics. The compound is not soluble in water. Hence, it remains suspended in water when released into oceans. There is a strong link between plastics and bisphenol. Plastics are made from polycarbonates. Rogers, Metz and Yong (2013) allege that polycarbonates are obtained from bisphenol A. Hence, a majority of synthetic materials contain bisphenol.

According to Japanese scientists, oceans are highly contaminated with bisphenol A, which is mainly used in the manufacture of plastic bags. The scientists alleged that the use of anti-rusting paints in ships leads to the increase in the level of bisphenol A in ocean water. Currently, the shorelines of at least 200 countries are contaminated with bisphenol A (Flint, Markle, Thompson & Wallace, 2012). Besides, most industrial effluent that is channeled into the oceans contains a high level of bisphenol A. The current level of bisphenol A in ocean water is distressing due to its adverse effects on marine life and human health.

Effects of Bisphenol

Bisphenol has adverse effects on marine community, human health, and economy. It leads to impaired reproduction among the marine community. Besides, bisphenol causes infertility among the marine animals, thus lowering their population. In other words, bisphenol affects the distribution of the marine community as it decreases their rate of reproduction. On the other hand, bisphenol has adverse effects on human health (Flint et al., 2012).

It affects neural circuits that control eating habit and expose human to the risk of contracting obesity. Besides, it affects brain development of young children. Flint et al. (2012) allege that bisphenol affects the dopaminergic system and make people hyperactive. Moreover, it impairs cognitive ability. Research has shown that prolonged exposure to bisphenol leads to sexual dysfunction among men. Because bisphenol has severe effects on human health, it makes people and countries to incur enormous costs as they try to treat and mitigate its effects. Hence, one of the economic effects of bisphenol is related to health costs. Moreover, it affects the fishing industry. The population of fish goes down, and many people avoid buying fish due to fear of ingesting bisphenol compounds. The level of income of families and businesses that rely on the fishing industry goes down.

Marine pollution occurs when harmful substances or chemicals are released into the ocean. Today, plastic wastes contribute to the greatest part of marine pollution. Floods sweep plastic materials from estates into the oceans. The plastic materials are harmful to the marine community when ingested. Besides, they have severe effects on human health. A majority of plastic wastes contain bisphenol, which is a toxic compound. Bisphenol lowers the fertility of marine community thereby affecting its population. In addition, bisphenol exposes people to a myriad of health hazards. Consumption of high amount of bisphenol impairs a person’s cognitive ability and exposes him/her to the risk of contacting obesity. Currently, it is not clear if bisphenol is carcinogenic. Therefore, the future research should focus on determining if consumption of bisphenol can cause cancer.

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Rogers, J., Metz, L., & Yong, V. (2013). Review: Endocrine disrupting chemicals and immune responses: A focus on bisphenol-A and its potential mechanisms. Molecular Immunology, 53 (4), 421-430. Web.

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• Water Transportation Industry's Impact on Wildlife
• Overfishing Problem in the United States
• Plastic Ocean and Its Effect on the Ecosystem
• Bisphenol a (BPA) Pose a Significant Health Risk
• Trashy Truth: Causes, Impacts, and Solutions
• Marine Ecosystems, Human Dependence and Impact
• Human Behavior Effects on the Environment
• Pollution & Climate Change as Environmental Risks
• Environmental Condition Assessment in Dubai: Sampling and Analysis
• Deforestation Effects and Solutions
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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Plastic Pollution In The Ocean

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