Ocean pollution

Ocean pollution
Ocean pollution
Ocean Pollution
Each year, billions of pounds of trash and other pollutants enter the ocean.

Each year, billions of pounds of trash and other pollutants enter the ocean. Where
does this pollution come from? Where does it go? Some of the debris ends up on
our beaches, washed in with the waves and tides. Some debris sinks, some is
eaten by marine animals that mistake it for food, and some accumulates in  ocean
gyres. Other forms of pollution that impact the health of the ocean come from
sources like oil spills or from accumulation of many dispersed sources, such as
fertilizer from our yards.

Where does pollution come from?

The majority of pollutants that make their way into the ocean come from human
activities along the coastlines and far inland. One of the biggest sources of
pollution is nonpoint source pollution, which occurs as a result of runoff. Nonpoint
source pollution can come from many sources, like septic tanks, vehicles, farms,
livestock ranches, and timber harvest areas. Pollution that comes from a single
source, like an oil or chemical spill, is known as point source pollution. Point
source pollution events often have large impacts, but fortunately, they occur less
often. Discharge from faulty or damaged factories or water treatment systems is
also considered point source pollution.

Nutrients and algal blooms: Too much of a good thing?

Sometimes it is not the type of material, but its concentration that determines
whether a substance is a pollutant. For example, the nutrients nitrogen and
phosphorus are essential elements for plant growth. However, if they are too
abundant in a body of water, they can stimulate an overgrowth of algae, triggering
an event called an algal bloom. Harmful algal blooms (HABs), also known as “red
tides,” grow rapidly and produce toxic effects that can affect marine life and
sometimes even humans. Excess nutrients entering a body of water, either
through natural or human activities, can also result in  hypoxia or dead zones.
When large amounts of algae sink and decompose in the water, the
decomposition process consumes oxygen and depletes the supply available to
healthy marine life. Many of the marine species that live in these areas either die
or, if they are mobile (such as fish), leave the area. 

Using ecological forecasting, NOAA is able to predict changes in ecosystems in

response to HABs and other environmental drivers. These forecasts provide
information about how people, economies, and communities may be affected. For
example, the Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring System developed by NOAA’s
National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science  provides information to the public
and local authorities to help decide whether beaches need to be closed
temporarily to protect public health.

Marine debris

Marine debris is a persistent pollution problem that reaches throughout the entire
ocean and Great Lakes. Our ocean and waterways are polluted with a wide variety of
marine debris, ranging from tiny microplastics, smaller than 5 mm, to derelict fishing
gear and abandoned vessels. Worldwide, hundreds of marine species have been
negatively impacted by marine debris, which can harm or kill an animal when it is
ingested or they become entangled, and can threaten the habitats they depend on.
Marine debris can also interfere with navigation safety and potentially pose a threat
to human health. 

All marine debris comes from people with a majority of it originating on land and
entering the ocean and Great Lakes through littering, poor waste management
practices, storm water discharge, and extreme natural events such as tsunamis and
hurricanes. Some debris, such as derelict fishing gear, can also come from ocean-
based sources. This lost or abandoned gear is a major problem because it can
continue to capture and kill wildlife, damage sensitive habitats, and even compete
with and damage active fishing gear.

Local, national, and international efforts are needed to address this environmental
problem. The Save our Seas Act of 2018 amends and reauthorizes the Marine Debris
Act to promote international action, authorize cleanup and response actions, and
increase coordination among federal agencies on this topic.

Garbage patches: What and where are they?

Garbage patches are large areas of the ocean where trash, fishing gear, and other
marine debris collects. The term “garbage patch” is a misleading nickname, making
many believe that garbage patches are "islands of trash" that are visible from afar.
These areas are actually made up of debris ranging in size, from microplastics to
large bundles of derelict fishing gear.
 
These patches are formed by large, rotating ocean currents called gyres that pull
debris into one location, often to the gyre’s center. There are  five gyres in the ocean:
one in the Indian Ocean, two in the Atlantic Ocean, and two in the Pacific Ocean.
Garbage patches of varying sizes are located in each gyre. Due to winds and
currents, garbage patches are constantly changing size and shape. The debris
making up the garbage patches can be found from the surface of the ocean all the
way to the ocean floor.

The impact of marine pollution on seafood

Heavy metals and other contaminants can accumulate in seafood, making it harmful
for humans to consume. Microplastics can be ingested by fish and other species that
filter their food out of the water. With more than one-third of the shellfish-growing
waters of the United States adversely affected by coastal pollution, it’s important for
NOAA and it’s partners to study the impacts of microplastics and harmful
contaminants in seafood. There is ongoing research around the country focusing on
the potential risk to wildlife and humans from debris exposure and ingestion. NOAA
monitors seafood contamination and provides safety tips through the Fish Watch
program.

Microplastics 
are very small pieces of plastic that pollute the environment. Microplastics are not a
specific kind of plastic, but rather any type of plastic fragment that is less than 5 mm in
length according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) They
enter natural ecosystems from a variety of sources, including cosmetics, clothing, and
industrial processes.
Two classifications of microplastics currently exist. Primary microplastics are any plastic
fragments or particles that are already 5.0 mm in size or less before entering the
environment. These include microfibers from clothing, microbeads, and plastic pellets
(also known as nurdles). Secondary microplastics are microplastics that are created
from the degradation of larger plastic products once they enter the environment through
natural weathering processes. Such sources of secondary microplastics include water
and soda bottles, fishing nets, and plastic bags. Both types are recognized to persist in
the environment at high levels, particularly in aquatic and marine ecosystems.
Additionally, plastics degrade slowly, often over hundreds if not thousands of years. This
increases the probability of microplastics being ingested and incorporated into,
and accumulated in, the bodies and tissues of many organisms. The entire cycle and
movement of microplastics in the environment is not yet known, but research is currently
underway to investigate this issue.