Article 4 - The Threat Of Sea Pollution and What YOU Can Do About It

http://see-the-sea.org/topics/pollution/toxic/ToxPol.htm

Oil can be assumed as the most widely knwon toxic pollutant to us. According to the author, the grounding of the Valdez may have been one of the most publicized tanker accidents in recent history, but there are many events like this which have occurred. The biggest spill ever recorded happened during the 1991 Persian Gulf War when about 240 million gallons spilled from oil terminals and tankers off the coast of Saudi Arabia. people don't realize that hundreds of millions of gallons each year quietly end up in our oceans by sources.

Large tanker spills, which are reported the world over, 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 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 and ship operations. 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. More than half of all Americans change their own oil but only about one third of the used oil from do it yourself oil changes is collected and recycled.
Thousands of other pollutants also end up in the ocean. According to the write alsio, more than 2.8 billion gallons of industrial waste water per day are discharged directly into U.S. ocean waters (U.S. EPA, 1994), 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 large 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 list of dangerous chemical pollutants is long, including chemical contaminants like pesticides, pharmaceutical agents, and biological contaminants like bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. Dioxins from the pulp and paper bleaching process can cause genetic chromosomal degradation in marine animals and may even cause cancer in humans. PCB's (polychlorinated biphenyls), which usually come from older electrical equipment, typically cause 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. These PAH's are responsible for causing genetic chromosomal aberrations in many marine animals.
Many cruise ships have become more like floating cities, transporting millions of people into the most pristine ocean environments around the world. They have been operating with no environmental regulations. The lack of regulation by this industry has caused a great deal of damage to sensitive marine environments and is of growing concern as the industry is rapidly expanding. Ships have grown from typically accommodating 600-700 people in 1970 to ships that now carry over 5000 people. A typical 3000 passenger ship can produce 255,000 gallons of wastewater and 30,000 gallons of sewage every day (The Ocean Conservancy,2002, p 13 & 15). All of this waste is normally discharged directly into the ocean and it is legal to do so in most areas provided the boats discharge 3 nautical miles from the coast. 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 further out 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. Additionally, habitat alteration is a common occurrence where cruise ships use anchoring systems. The sheer size and weight of an anchor dramatically disturbs the seafloor.
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. This has long been considered a problem in freshwater systems. In recent years, scientists have become more concerned about eutrophic (overly nutrient enriched) conditions in coastal estuaries. Nutrient pollution now represents the most widespread pollution problem facing U.S. coastal waters.
Nutrient pollution causes many problems, including:
1. Harmful algal blooms.
2. Hypoxic areas or "dead zones".
3. Fish kills.
4. Loss of seagrass and kelp beds.
5. Coral reef destruction.
6. Eutrophication.

What can you do about it?
1. Never pour any oil or other chemicals into the ground or drains. Many of these chemicals make their way to the ocean. Maintain vehicles to prevent oil from leaking onto the road which will then go down a drain and into the water.
2. Recycle all oil and chemicals. Most communities have recycling centers that will accept used oil and other chemicals for recycling.
3. Reduce the use of hazardous chemicals by choosing household cleaners, pesticides and fertilizers which are not toxic to your surroundings.
4. Consume less pesticide-dependant foods thereby reducing the amount of pesticides used.
5. Landscape with native plants that do not require fertilizers and that need less water. Less irrigation results in less runoff, while less chemical application keeps runoff clean.
6. Compost your household, kitchen and yard wastes, which makes an excellent fertilizer.
7. Limit paved surfaces as they prevent water from percolating down into the ground, causing runoff to accumulate. Paved surfaces also transfer heat to runoff, thereby increasing the temperature of receiving waters.