Everything in this world we use comes from the ocean in some way. The air we breathe, the water we drink, even the products we use day to day, would not be possible without the ocean. That's why the issue of ocean pollution is so important and needs to be addressed as soon as possible. We depend on the ocean for so much in our life, without it we would surely become extinct. People seem to think that since the ocean is so large and vast, we can dump as much waste as we'd like into it and it will never have an effect on us. However, since we've been polluting the ocean as far back as Roman times, the evidence of ocean pollution becoming a major problem is all too clear.
There are many different ways the ocean can become polluted. One major way would be man-made pollutants such as pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers, detergents, oil, sewage, plastics, and other solids, finding their way into the ocean and collecting at the ocean's depths. In fact, this makes up 80% of the ocean's pollution. At the depths, they are consumed by small organisms that introduce the pollutants to the global food chain. Many of the pollutants are released into local streams, rivers, and groundwater and are eventually deposited into estuaries, bays, and deltas. This can cause massive amount of algae to grow, taking oxygen from the water and places marine life can exist. In the past 2 years, these dead zones have increased by 1/3. Scientists have discovered around 400 dead zones in world.
Other solid waste such as bags, foam, and other items from ships are often eaten by marine animals, fish, and birds that mistake it for food, usually ending in devastating effects. This is becoming such a problem that in some areas, currents collect such...
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This problem may seem prevalent and it is very important to know about. It affects marine life in many ways, but humans are also greatly affected.by this problem. People don’t realize what this problem does to them. However the human race can always work and solve this issue. People shouldn’t dump trash in the ocean or any water source. Trash can destroy coral reefs and other important ecosystems and ruin marine life. Most important sewage plants shouldn’t dump raw sewage into the ocean because it provides nutrients to harmful algae. Governments around the world should put more restrictions on sewage and the disposal of it. But if the solution wants to be solved people must work together.
We, as humans, need to take action, be accountable for our oceans and prevent the waste we produce from entering our waters. On a daily basis, thoughtless men, women, and children are polluting our waters and killing our marine life.
The coral reefs require clear, salty water. Pollution from the land, like dirt and mud, enters streams and rivers. It enters the ocean through its natural process of erosion and makes the water cloudy. Other materials dumped at sea are metal, glass, wood, plastic and chemicals. The build up of greenhouse gases is causing global temperature to rise which also makes ocean temperatures rise.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the largest garbage dump in the world. According to estimates made by experts, the patch holds approximately three and a half million tons of garbage. Majority of this garbage is made of plastic. This waste is a threatening problem to the patch’s surrounding wildlife. Many animals are caught in the floating pieces of trash and it is the cause of the deaths of about one million birds and about one hundred thousand other sea animals. Due to the oceans nature and constant moving currents, the trash is also constantly moving. Therefore the size of the patch never stays the exact same. However, scientists believe it be approximately two times the size of Texas. The plastic is mostly broken down from larger materials into small pieces. The patch has been referred to as one scientist as a, “plastic soup”. This garbage poses such a threat mainly because it does not biodegrade. These plastics will be in the ocean essentially forever. Many plastics also contain chemicals, and absorb other chemicals and pollutants they become exposed to. These newly absorbed toxins are then leaked and distributed back into the ocean over time. The chemicals can directly enter the bodies of the animals which consume them. A study was being conducted by scientists of the fish that inhabit the area around the patch. What the researchers found inside the belly of one fish (that was no larger in size than that of a finger), was eighty four small fragments of plastic. It does not take scientists to recognize the impact of this problem, Zach Gold, who is sixteen, is from Santa Monica California. Zach enjoys s...
The ocean is an abundant source of life. It is home to thousand of different creatures, provides a great source of food, and provides the earth with about one half of the oxygen needed to sustain life. (National Geographic) Pollution especially plastic, is a catastrophic problem. Ironically plastic, which is a material designed to last forever is generally used for things we tend to throw away. Every year about one hundred to two hundred billion pounds of plastic are manufactured. Only 31% of that plastic is actually recycled. Biomass packaging estimates 10% of that plastic ends up in the ocean annually. About 20% of it coming from ships and other platforms, and the other 80% coming from land derived sources, such as international garbage dumping, winds or tides either way it finds its way to the ocean.(Biomass Packaging Co., et al)
The article indicates that the influences of oceans pollution that made by humans and caused by a phenomenon called “dead zones”. First of all, there is a great amount of plastic in the ocean which causes massive consequences for animals of the entire marine food web. On the other hand, “Dead zone” also affect Earth’s oceans. “Dead zones” can formed by many causes, such as natural causes, climate change, along human activities and industrial waste. These is a national problem and humans need to have some regulatory mechanisms. Therefore, it can helps the “dead zones” reduced. The author mentions that the US Environmental
Our oceans take a large beating every day by the extremely large amount of pollution humans produce. Our society easily dumps their waste into the oceans to dispose of the excessive amount of garbage, sewage, and chemicals, but this small and simple solution is creating an even bigger problem. The way humans dispose of their wastes is causing the death of our beloved marine life. Not only are we killing off our animals, our food source, and our resources, we are also minimizing our usable water. By having a better understanding of the problem on the severe dumping, it will be easier to find ways to help minimize the pollution that is going into the ocean.
The Earth's surface is roughly 70% covered by the ocean. Little did we know that the ocean is a vital aspect of our lives. The ocean plays a crucial role in maintaining the biogeochemical cycle, and it contributes the most to the aquatic life biodiversity. However, many people aren't aware that their activity on land is also affecting the ocean. The pollution produced from factories and motor vehicles contribute the most to the output of carbon dioxide gas into the air. Over time, this gas will be accumulated in the air and will then be absorbed by the ocean. Recently, environmentalists are raising concerns about Ocean Acidification. Ocean Acidification is a sudden decrease in the pH of the ocean water over an extended time. The decrease in pH is due to the reaction between water and the dissolved carbon dioxide which forms a carbonic acid and hydrogen ions. When at high concentration, this acidic
Ever since the industrial revolution, humans have been responsible for the releasing of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as a result of industrial and agricultural uses. The ocean absorbs roughly a quarter of this carbon dioxide. Originally, scientists believed this to be a benefit because the ocean was removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Ocean acidification, however, began to change the chemical composition of the water. NOVA’s documentary, Lethal Seas, explores the effects of ocean acidification located in Papua New Guinea, Aurora Australis, and on America’s northwest coast.
It is a part of our nature which we destroy every single day. Ocean is a source of life. Full of living organisms. Full of beauty, unknow and untouched places.
Every year there is about 8 tons of trash being dumped in the ocean. It affects the environment because plastic takes a long time to decompose. That means all the trash in the ocean will take many years to decompose. Which harms many animals. Most of the water we drink comes from the ocean.
Oceans are such so vast that people underestimate the impact their actions —seeming so insignificant— have on them. Humans have by and large taken the oceans for granted; not considering how important a healthy ocean is to our survival. A popular mind-set is that the oceans are a bottomless supply of fish, natural resources, and an infinite waste dump. There are myriad reasons why the oceans should be saved and the most obvious one is marine life. With 71% of the Earth being covered by water, it is obvious that sea creatures are predominant form of life, making up 80% of the species of life on Earth. However, as important as marine life is, that is not the only reason why saving the oceans is crucial. The ocean floor provides natural resources such as, oil, natural gas, petroleum, minerals, medications, and ingredients for foods and products. The economic benefits of the oceans are huge and significant, as well. Fishing and fish products have provided employment to 38 million people and have generated about $124 billion in economic benefits. However, oceans are on the verge of crisis, marine life, natural resources, transportation, the economy, and important ingredients are at risk due to overfishing, pollution, and acidification. Thus, in this essay I will argue that, oceans are not impervious to human activity and threatening the health of the ocean threatens the health of humanity, since oceans key to our survival.
Toufexis Anastasia, Andrea Dorfman, Eugene Linden, and Edwin M. Reingold. "The Dirty Seas Threatened by Rising Pollution, the Oceans Are Sending out an SOS." Time 132.5 (1988): 1-8. MasterFILE Complete. Web. 16 Apr. 2014.
Global warming is one of the major reasons in marine pollution. For an instance in the year 2010 there was an oil leakage near Mumbai in the Arabian Sea.
Efforts to improve the standard of living for humans--through the control of nature and the development of new products--have also resulted in the pollution, or contamination, of the environment. Much of the world's air, water, and land is now partially poisoned by chemical wastes. Some places have become uninhabitable. This pollution exposes people all around the globe to new risks from disease. Many species of plants and animals have become endangered or are now extinct. As a result of these developments, governments have passed laws to limit or reverse the threat of environmental pollution.