Causes Of Ocean Pollution

Industrialization during the time period of Industrial Revolution has improved the systems of communication, transportation, and standard of living by manufacturing mass productions. Through the development over the centuries, our life became convenient compared to hundreds of years ago. Nevertheless, as we continuously pursue convenience for our lifestyles, the Earth is constantly damaged by human’s desire. During the Industrial Revolution, there was a lack of industrial regulations on the limitation of chemicals and greenhouse gas emission. Thus, industries did not consider the preservation of nature and exposed the enormous amount of contaminants into our nature. This mistakes of early age have led to destructions in our natural resources

For the last few decades hundreds of human activities have been severely impacting one of our most important ecosystems and the life it sustains. Ocean Pollution also known as Marine Pollution is defined as the spreading of deleterious substances such as human, industrial, and agricultural waste, oil, plastic, chemicals and much more. An article from the NOAA states “Eighty percent of pollution to the marine environment comes from the land.” Humans are responsible for the destructruction of the oceans, therefore it is our obligation within every citizen in playing there part to keep our oceans clean. Ocean Pollution doesn't only affect marine life, but us as well. An article from PlanetAid.org states “It provides over 70 percent of the oxygen

In the awakening of the Industrial Revolution around the 1800s, technology, and science rapidly advanced, leaving the human race unable to resist the manufacturing age that aggressively expanded in the 21st century. With all these changes, the launch of the industrial era witnessed a revolutionary transition from the small-scale and fewer pollutant factories to the full-scale industries that became mass producers and manufacture units through the centuries. However, the lack of policies to control pollution, the unplanned industrial growth, and the industries’ inefficiency to dispose of the waste are a couple of examples that have lead– particularly the U.S., to face major environmental disasters due to the excessive and continuous industrial pollution that arose as a result of industrialization. In response to these changes, it is necessary that our nation as a world power invest in better technology for the disposal of waste and recycling since at this point technological regression is somewhat unreal. In addition, similarly to what Rachel Carson and Jared Diamond implicitly advocated in their essays, we must aim to push policies into place to prevent the misuse of land, promote organic methods for production, and encourage the school system to invest in environmental activities to encourage the millennial generation in every corner of the world to adopt a green mindset.

It has been known that the ocean covers nearly seventy five percent of the Earth, and as time goes by, marine ecosystems are greatly affected, due to the increase of pressure by populations in coastal regions. As a result of constant marine pollution, the health of the ocean and its organisms have been debilitated. While the previous decades have seen endeavors at the nearby, national, and global levels to address the issues of this problem, not enough has been done. Of the many sources that come from the land, air, and sea itself, one important root of marine pollution are storm sewers. Storm sewers serve to remove excess rain or water from impervious surfaces such as paved streets or sidewalks. Contrary to the water that goes down sewer drains,

It covers almost three thirds of planet earth hydrosphere, contains 97 percent of the planets water, it produces half of the oxygen needed for us to breath, and absorbs the most carbon dioxide emissions, yet 95 percent of it remains unexplored by humans; the ocean, the lifeblood of planet earth. From its coral reefs to the solitary creatures that lurk in its depths, the ocean is home to numerous amazing creatures, from enormous whales and sharks to tiny fish, each specie serving as an indicator for the oceans health and maintaining the food chain. Unfortunately, all of this is at risk as a result of the neglect and carelessness mankind has shown towards the ocean. Individuals, governments and corporations are responsible for polluting the ocean on a daily basis. It is time to seriously deal with this issue at every level before the consequences of marine pollution are too great to deal with.

As I look out at the beautiful ocean, the silky sand and gorgeous seashells lay underneath my feet. The blue waves crashing down onto the shore. The ocean is truly a beautiful sight to see. However, we are slowly ruining this beautiful thing because of the way we treat this planet, the ocean is extremely polluted and marine life is paying for it. A few of the ways mankind is damaging marine life is by heavy oil pollution, and exposing marine life to dangerous chemicals.

Most of the trash being washed in the ocean is plastic, and the problem with plastic is it isn't biodegradable. So all the plastic that's in the ocean doesn't just disappear, it continues to float around and harm marine life. In the ocean, plastic debris injures and kills fish, seabirds and marine mammals. “Marine plastic pollution has impacted at least 267 species worldwide, including 86% of all sea turtle species, 44% of all seabird species and 43% of all marine mammal species.” (“Clean Water Action”). The impacts include injuries as a result of ingestion, starvation, suffocation, infection, drowning, and entanglement. “In 2010, a California grey whale washed up dead on the shores of the Puget Sound. Autopsies indicated that its stomach contained a pair of pants and a golf ball, more than 20 plastic bags, small towels, duct tape and surgical gloves. (“Clean Water Action”). Some marine mammals even mistake the trash for food, making them consume unhealthy chemicals and minerals for their body.

“It has been estimated that plastics and discarded fishing gear, such as monofilament line and discarded nets, kill one million seabirds and 150,000 marine mammals each year” (Ambrose). Trade winds and gyres in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans can carry trash thousands of miles. When the currents caused by these winds intersect with land, the garbage is deposited on the shores of continents and many islands off the coast. Another major source of marine pollution is pollution via petroleum products and oil spills. An oil spill large enough can completely destroy an environment for tens of thousands of marine animals. “In the period from 2000 to 2008, an average of 24 tons (21.8 metric

We all see oceans as calming places to spend our vacation with family and friends. Sometimes we accidentally leave the trash right by the shore of the beach, and we don’t even realize how that trash might do anything to the ocean creatures. How much of trash do you think gets left on the beaches? Maybe ten, twenty hundred pounds. It’s neither one of them. According to NBC news “Volunteers scoured 33,000 miles off shoreline worldwide and found six million pounds of debris from cigarette butts and food wrappers (NBC news)”. This is insanity we don’t even realize how inadequate our behaviors are and because of our behavior what might happen to the innocent marine animals that are leaving in the ocean.

The ocean is a vast and mysterious part of our ocean. The ocean covers 71 % of our planet and contains over 50% of all life on earth .(“Oceanic Institute”). The oceans also holds the deepest part of our planet that we have yet to explore and discover. The ocean is such a vital part of our planet and we are destroying it with pollution and mistakes that we have made.

Over the last few decades human activities have become a danger to marine life, through marine pollution. According to WWF.panda.org over 80% of marine pollution comes from land-based activities, such as oil, fertilisers, general rubbish, sewage disposal, and toxic chemicals. As someone who cares about ocean and its sea life these statistics always saddens me to think that humans are the main cause of their harm. Just this weekend there has been an article in the newspaper about a whale’s stomach that was full of around 30 plastic bags. The whale was then put down in Norway after they failed to rescue it. What we need to realise as people is that even though the ocean may seem big enough to hold a lot of pollution it's actually having an enormous effect on the marine life and could also start having more of an effect on us through diseases, transferred when eating contaminated fish that may have consumed the toxic substances. The newspaper article on the whale sadly didn’t even seem to surprise me anymore, I have seen many similar

One of the most expansive and diverse places on the Earth is dying at the hands of humans. Fossil fuels, fertilizers, and energy plants are releasing chemicals into the environment harming oceans. The ocean's ecosystem can not handle the extensive impact of today’s agriculture. The acidity of the ocean continues to increase, making the ocean’s ecosystem unstable for marine life. In order to restore oceans back to their original state, the government needs to adopt policies to help oceans face today’s agriculture.

Our oceans are so polluted that 100,000 marine mammals die each year from trash related ocean pollution. (The Gale Encyclopedia, 2014). Our oceans are in such critical condition due to several types of marine pollution. From the causes and staggering statistics, to the drastic effects on marine life, and the extent of solutions it is clear that marine pollution has a colossal negative impact on our oceans.

Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide from fossil fuel combustion is increasing dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and reducing pH in the global surface ocean (Edmunds et al. 2016). Recent estimates suggest that one-quarter of carbon dioxide emissions originating from human fossil-fuel combustion is absorbed by the world’s oceans (Le Quéré, et al. 2015), causing a shift in the seawater carbonate chemistry. As a result, oceans have seen large increases in bicarbonate ions and decreases in concentrations of calcium carbonate ions and pH of the seawater; in a process known as ocean acidification. Since preindustrial times, atmospheric carbon dioxide absorbed by the oceans has lowered the pH of the seawater by 0.1 units, which equates to approximately a 30% increase in acidity. In addition, carbonate ion concentrations have decreased by 11%-15% in the tropics and southern oceans (Orr et al. 2005). According to the IPCC, under a “business as usual” approach to climate change, carbon dioxide absorbed by the oceans will cause a pH decrease of 0.77 units by 2030 (Caldeira and Wickett 2003). This increase in acidity will cause decreases in carbonate ion concentration and lead to a reduction in the saturation states of aragonite, calcite and high magnesium calcite, which may lead to a reduction in calcification in marine organisms (Feely et al. 2004; Gattuso et al. 1999; Langdon and Atkinson 2005; Anthony et al. 2008). With a doubling of atmospheric pCO2 from

The ocean is a great resource for many people and a way of life especially for the people in Hawaii. In Hawaii people fish, dive, kayak, paddle canoe and surf. The ocean provides food for many families and is a consistent place of refuge that holds many memories and traditions. People today are very careless and wasteful and unfortunately much of their actions are causing damage and devastation to the coral reel. Everyone see dead reef and all kinds of trash floating and sunk on the bottom of the ocean. In those areas there is no marine life nothing at all. Most people am not concerned about the marine life, and all the coral life, and all the pollution that gets into our oceans. Most people are not trying to raise awareness to get people’s attention about this problem it is a big problem and if no one cares and that this keeps happening people predict that over the next 10 years the ocean will change a lot and will make a big impact on us. People go the the ocean to get their food and to travel around. Everyone should be highly concerned about our oceans. If no one care about it then it won't last too long and everything will die.