What are the major causes of ocean pollution, and how does it affect marine life and human health?
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Ocean pollution is primarily caused by plastics, chemical waste, agricultural runoff, oil spills, and sewage discharge. Plastics, which make up around 80% of marine debris, pose severe threats to marine life as they can be ingested or cause entanglement, leading to injury or death. Chemicals from peRead more
Ocean pollution is primarily caused by plastics, chemical waste, agricultural runoff, oil spills, and sewage discharge. Plastics, which make up around 80% of marine debris, pose severe threats to marine life as they can be ingested or cause entanglement, leading to injury or death. Chemicals from pesticides and fertilizers lead to nutrient pollution, creating dead zones where marine life cannot survive. Oil spills suffocate marine animals and destroy habitats like coral reefs. For humans, consuming seafood contaminated with microplastics and toxins leads to health issues like hormonal imbalances, neurological disorders, and cancers. Ocean pollution also undermines economies dependent on tourism and fishing, making it a pressing environmental concern.
See lesspollution, the addition of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or any form of energy (such as heat, sound, or radioactivity) to the environment at a rate faster than it can be dispersed, diluted, decomposed, recycled, or stored in some harmless form. The major kinds of pollution, usually classifieRead more
pollution, the addition of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or any form of energy (such as heat, sound, or radioactivity) to the environment at a rate faster than it can be dispersed, diluted, decomposed, recycled, or stored in some harmless form. The major kinds of pollution, usually classified by environment, are air pollution, water pollution, and land pollution. Modern society is also concerned about specific types of pollutants, such as noise pollution, light pollution, and plastic pollution. Pollution of all kinds can have negative effects on the environment and wildlife and often impacts human health and well-being.Ocean pollution has many causes, including:
See lessNonpoint source pollution
This is pollution that comes from many small sources, like vehicles, septic tanks, farms, and livestock ranches. It’s often caused by runoff, which is when rain or snow carries pollutants from the ground to the ocean.
Point source pollution
This is pollution that comes from a single source, like an oil spill or chemical spill.
Plastics
Plastic bags are one of the most deadly types of plastic in the ocean because they can be mistaken for food by marine life. They can take up to 20 years to decompose.
Offshore drilling
The oil and gas industry’s operations can lead to spills, which can cause irreversible damage to marine ecosystems.
Ocean acidification
This occurs when the pH of the ocean lowers, which can have harmful effects on marine organisms.
Air pollution
Some water pollution starts as air pollution, which settles into waterways and oceans.
Other pollutants
Other pollutants include:
Chemical runoff
Crude oil
Sewage
Fertilizers
Discarded fishing nets
Noise from shipping and drilling