We are least bothered about the effects that pollution has on the ocean. We continue to dispose of chemicals, sewage and garbage in to rivers and ocean at an unprecedented rate. The fish catch from the ocean having the bio concentration of pollutants is finally reaching the human beings and we are in a way compelled to know the cause and effect of marine pollution
1. Chemical Toxins:
Discharge from industry and cities, pesticides from farms, forests and homes run through the rivers and waterways and pollute the ocean at the end, while polluting them. Anti fouling Paint and Paint leach from port and harbors are some of the substances that pollute the ocean.
Accumulation of such chemical toxins in the fatty tissue of marine mammals and birds cause disease and reproductive failure. Anti-fouling substances inhibit the growth of marine organisms. They cause behavioral and physiological damage.
2. Nutrients:
Substances rich in nitrogen and phosphorus through effluent and run off mostly from forestry, forming and other land use cause pollution in the ocean. Air borne nitrogen oxides from power plants and automobiles also cause marine pollution.
As a consequence of such pollution algal blooms are triggered leading to depletion of dissolved oxygen. This discolors the water, clog fish gills, depletion of oxygen and release toxin that kill fish.
3. Oil:
Land based sources, ship oil ranker operation, ship accidents at sea, off shore oil drilling and natural seepage cause pollution in the ocean.
The oil slick clogs the gills of fishes and cause respiratory problems. It kills larvae. Tar balls when swallowed by marine species kill them immediately.
4. Pathogens:
Sewage from beach resorts, urban and rural areas and live stocks activities cause pollution.
As a result the shore waters are contaminated. Filter feeding marine organisms such as mussels, clams and oysters concentrate pathogenic micro organism in their gut.
5. Sediments:
Erosion from mining, forestry, farming, dredging and other land use activities cause pollution.
Pollution by sediments cause clouding of water, impede photo synthetic activities below the surface of water. Sediments kill the bottom living organisms.
6. Plastics:
This pollution is caused by damaged nylon fishing nets, beach litter, waste from plastic industry, plastics thrown by the humans in to the sea and land fills.
Plastic debris entangles marine life. The fish eat them mistaking it for food. Plastic litter beaches and persists without decaying for about eighty long years.
7. Radio active substances:
Discarded nuclear submarine and military wastes also from industrial waste cause pollution
Radio active substances can alter the food of chain of marine organism and cause death.
8. Thermal Pollution.
Cooling water from power plants and industrial sites cause pollution.
Corals and other temperature sensitive sedimentary species are affected by thermal pollution.
9. Noise:
Traveling operation of super tankers, other large vessels and machinery cause noise pollution.
It leads to stress and disrupts marine life.
What could be done to prevent marine pollution?
- First of all assess how much our humans are contributing to ocean pollution
- Find out if our people are reducing sources of land based pollution.
- Nip marine debris in the bud.
- Remind our generation that hazardous waste should never be dumped in to storm drains. Discard toxic wastes never down the drain.