The Day Of The Beach

The problem with plastic ending up in the ocean is that marine life is being harmed by the presence of it. A study done on the harbor seals in the Netherlands found that more than 12% had plastic in the digestive system (California Coastal Commission). The list of affected species indicates that marine debris is affecting a significant number of species. It affects at least 267 species worldwide, including 86% of all sea turtle species, 44% of all seabird species, and 43% of all marine mammal species (Save our shores). The problem is underestimated because the marine life that ingests plastic or dies from entanglement often goes undiscovered due to the vastness of the ocean, as they either sink or are eaten by predators before they are discovered (Plastic Debris). The potential harm from ingestion of plastics is not restricted to seabirds. Plastic bags drifting on ocean currents resemble the prey of turtles. There is evidence that their survival is being hindered by plastic debris with young sea turtles being vulnerable (Ocean pollution). Over the past 20 years polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have polluted marine food webs at an increasing rate, and are prevalent in seabirds. Though their adverse effects may not always be apparent, PCBs lead to reproductive disorders, increase the risk of disease and alter hormone levels. These chemicals have a detrimental effect on marine organisms even at very low levels and plastic pellets could be a route for PCBs into marine food

When it comes to ocean pollution, it doesn't only affect our beaches, but it also affects the sea animals. In Figure 1, you can see an innocent seahorse wrapping their tale around a q-tip. The seahorse in Hofman’s photo is just one example of how marine animals interact with plastic debris. (How a Photographer Snapped This Tragic Photo of a Seahorse Lugging a Q-Tip.” The Verge, The Verge, 15 Sept. 2017) This seahorse now does not know that the debris isn’t okay or out of the usual, but just adapted it as their everyday life because the plastic levels in the sea is increasing massively year by year. Human waste is taking over the sea and this photo proves just that.

Nursey-Bray, M., & Palmer, R. (n.d.). Marine Pollution. 1099-1101. Retrieved from Gale Virtual Reference Database

There are various forms of pollution that affect many terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. One of the most prevalent forms of pollutants is litter as humans often dispose of their unwanted trash, improperly. There are many sources of litter from not discarding unwanted items into trash receptacles to trash being blown out of Waste Management Districts; some litter may be accidental and other litter is intentionally disposed of incorrectly. Whether producing litter is done intentionally or unintentionally, items such as nets, food wrappers, cigarette filters, plastic containers, and other debris impose serious hazards to wildlife, habitats, and human safety. Our research for this literature review has used eight sources to compile some basic knowledge on the affects trash on land and in coastal waters. These papers have taught us about debris accumulating in the ocean, cleanup efforts, and what the pollution's impacts are on the environment. In this review we will be comparing these articles content to help better understand the topic at hand.

(“Impacts,” n.d.)Areas with beautiful beaches, such as Florida, can loose tourism due to blemish marine debris can leave on the shoreline. Furthermore, the environment and wildlife are both affected by marine debris. Coral reefs can become polluted and eventually die, and marine life often ingests or becomes entangled in the debris. Also, debris can be hidden under the surface of the water, and because of this boats can damage their engines and propellers if they fail to see the trash and end up boating over the debris. Additionally, invasive species can attach to debris and drift thousands of miles into foreign habitats. (“Impacts,”

Marine mammals can live for decades and have large blubber layers that attract and store fat soluble chemicals. They also feed at the top levels of long food chains and therefore act as and end point for much of the accumulation in food webs (O’Shea, 1999). This concept encompasses two major principles of contamination in marine mammals: bioaccumulation and biomagnification. The latter is described as the tendency of organochlorines to concentrate as they are moved up the trophic levels (O’Shea, 1999). An evaluation of the chemical contaminants found in marine mammals from Washington state found that PCB concentrations in seal blubber were 110 times higher than levels found in their fish prey in the Puget Sound, and 56 times higher than their fish prey in Hood Canal (Calambokidis et al., 1984). Calambokidis et al. (1984) concludes there was a significant percentage of organochlorines in fish prey being absorbed and stored by adult male seals. Biomagnification relates to the various diets of marine mammals at different levels in a food chain. Odontocetes and pinnipeds who feed on higher trophic levels such as fish, invertebrates, squid, and other marine mammals, tend to have higher organochlorine concentrations than Mysticetes or low trophic level feeders (O’Shea, 1999). A prime example of this is comparing two eco-types of Orcinus orca, transient and resident, from the Kenai Fjords/Prince William Sound, AK region (Ylitalo et al., 2001). Although there are many distinctions between these two groups such as habitat use, the main one is that transient killer whales are marine mammal eaters and resident killer whales are fish eaters. This difference causes much higher concentrations of organochlorines in transient killer whales than in resident groups, indicating species who feed in higher trophic levels collect more organochlorines (Ylitalo et al., 2001). O’Shea (1999) had

In 2014, NOAA provides this report with detailed and sufficient information relating to the effects of marine debris and the entanglement that happens to the ocean’s animals. The report done by NOAA’s Marine Debris Programs gives amazing information to help argue my opinion in the future, since it is referring to debris and animals. The information regarding the effects of marine species in marine pollution, specifically pinnipeds is stated in the report about how many different marine animals are being entangled by the pollution humans are creating. This report provides excellent background information with facts dating all the way back to 1983 to 2014. I believe with all these years of research the report helps me find other information relating to marine debris. NOAA has made is very easy to identify who has published this report along with who was involved. NOAA being The Nation Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration makes them quite qualified to speak on marine pollution and they allow all contact information to be found. For the most part NOAA has done their own research in order to create this report, therefore there is not any other sources. With NOAA being almost all about marine life the administration is biased, but they provide valid information that can easily be verified.

Some things like ocean mining and littering have a huge impact on the ocean because when drilling for gold and different rocks in the ocean and that increase the lowest part of the ocean toxicity. Some things that litters in the air are plastic things and little things like sand and dust. When it comes in the ocean and nobody cleans it and it stays in the ocean for a very long time. The ocean animals would think the plastic are foods and will eat it because they think it's food and would die from eating because of choking on

Marine pollution is the represented as the contamination of sea environment through various activities either taking place on earth or within the sea. Most of the contamination is caused through human intervention of sea environment. The water on land in thrown in sea taking a number of contaminated materials with itcaucuses the marine pollution.On the otherhand the litter thrown in sea is also one of the major causes of earth pollution sent into seas. The marine environment is also contaminated through oil spills and petroleum related causes of marine pollution adversely affect the marine environment (O'Hara,

We 're treating the oceans like a trash bin: around 80 percent of marine litter originates on land, and most of that is plastic. Plastic that pollutes our oceans and waterways has severe impacts on our environment and our economy. Seabirds, whales, sea turtles and other marine life are eating marine plastic pollution and dying from choking, intestinal blockage and starvation. Scientists are investigating the long-term impacts of toxic pollutants absorbed, transported, and consumed by fish and other marine life, including the potential effects on human health.

Majestic animals that live in the ocean are rapidly dying and subsequently washing up on numerous shorelines that touch the Pacific Ocean’s waters. Disposal of a variety of toxins and damaging waste finding a path into our oceans are to blame for the deaths, which are largely preventable. Sharks, sea turtles, whales, dolphins and birds are just fraction of the marine life that are suffering because they are becoming sick or are dying of starvation. Their food sources are diminishing or disappearing as the cycle of destruction continues on down to the tiny, minute plankton that are the core of the food chain in the ocean. Contamination is causing the sudden increase of marine life deaths in the Pacific Ocean. The most recent reports of dead sea animals found washed up on shorelines don’t state scientific evidence of the cause of the mysterious deaths.

The ocean covers seventy percent of the planet. It helps to produce more than half of the planet’s oxygen in the atmosphere by using plankton and algal plankton, which are found under the sea. Plankton and algae plankton provides nutrients for all marine species. The ocean also helps to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. There are around four million people depend on fish as their primary source of food. But since the past decades, the ocean has been in danger due to marine pollution. In other words, the Danger has happened because we are adding toxic and harmful chemicals into the ocean, rivers, and lake, which accumulates and spreads out in the water current. A scientist has found that eighty percent of marine pollution comes from land-based activities. Many questions have arisen due to marine pollution. The first one is why is micro beads pollution harmful to the environment? The text will discuss the cause and consequences of micro beads. The second question is how is marine pollution harming the marine wildlife? The text will discuss the cause of marine pollution to the marine wildlife and the consequences of marine pollution to the marine wildlife. Finally. The third questions are why is marine pollution harmful to our climate? The paper will discuss the consequences of marine pollution to the climate change and the prevention of marine pollution.

Marine habitats throughout the world are severely affected by man-made items of debris and solid waste; marine debris contaminates the environment, as well as impacting the economy, and the safety of humans and their health. The extent of the impacts is dictated by the type of marine debris and the location of which it settles in the ocean; whether it be floating, submerged or within a delicate habitat. Marine debris can be viewed as any persistent, manufactured or processed solid material that is disposed of in the marine and coastal environment. While this definition delineates a very comprehensive array of materials, however the most common items usually involve plastic-polystyrene pieces, rope/cord/nets, cotton swabs, and light weight food packaging. Marine debris commonly arise from the shoreline and recreational activities, waterway activities, smoking, and dumping at sea. For example, fishing nets, plastic bags, and tires can sink to the ocean floor and break and smother coral reefs. Fishing line can float along the ocean surface and catch vessel propellers causing costly damage. A syringe can wash up on the beach and be stepped on by a beachgoer resulting in a wound and possibly an infection. Regardless of the type or the location of the marine debris, it can have serious impacts.

Oceanic pollution has many elements that define it and varies sources contribute this problem. Complexity of this type of pollution can best be defined by The National Research Council within their research Tackling Marine Debris in the 21st Century:

Oceans hold many natural resources that all species benefit from. It not only provides most of the food sources that benefit our planet, but it also produces more than half of the oxygen in the atmosphere and absorbs most of the carbon that is produced. Benefitting our environment with drinking water, food for organisms to eat, and oxygen to fill the ecosystem. Yet still, even with all the beneficial factors, the ocean gives us, humans still don’t find a way to take care of it. According to Protect Planet Ocean (2010), “The sheer number of people who use and depend on the ocean, and sometimes unwise practices we adopt,