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Ask a Marine Scientist: answers to Marine Pollution questions!
Q: What is the worst kind of ocean pollution?....and what kinds of ocean pollution are there? A: There is not necessarily one type of pollution that worse than other pollution. In fact, it has only be in the past thirty years that we have come to realize the effects that pollution is having on our oceans. In the past it was perceived that the world's oceans had an infinite capacity for absorbing our waste. Recently, we have come to realize that our waste, even in small quantities, have huge effects on ocean communities and species. Some major types of pollutants that have been the focus of recent research are oil, sewage, garbage, chemicals, radioactive waste, thermal pollution, and eutrophication. 1. Oil: You can find more information on this page! 2. Sewage: This type of pollution is discharged into the oceans all over the world. Sewage adds to the amount of small particles suspended in the water column and contributes large amounts of nutrients. The effect of sewage is difficult to detect on the open coast, but in semi-enclosed areas the effects are devastating. Near sewage outflow areas in temperate waters of California, the benthic invertebrate communities have degraded, kelp beds have disappeared and diseased fish have become more prevalent. In tropical waters, outflows near coral reefs have caused a bloom of algal species that grows over the coral, and eventually smothers them to death. 3. Garbage: This type of pollution has a huge effect on ocean life. I suggest you check out the Ocean Conservancy and the Vancouver Aquarium's Great B.C. Beach Clean-Up site. for information on types of marine debris and what you can do to help. 4. Chemicals: These are toxic substances that are released by the industrialized nations and make their way into ocean systems. They are not visible like garbage and sewage and therefore can sneak their way into ocean systems undetected. Toxic chemicals often enter ocean systems through food chains and affect organisms at different times and places from where they were released. An example of this type of pollution is DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane). DDT was used for years as a pesticide on farms. Later it was found that it does not breakdown, but in fact persists for years; just how long is unknown. This compound is relatively insoluble in water and bonds strongly to particles. Although DDT is not used in the marine environment it enters marine food webs through land runoff, precipitation and dumping. DDT is absorbed by plankton but cannot be metabolized. Since, it is not metabolized it accumulates in the food chain until it reaches the top carnivore, where more drastic effects are seen. For example, in marine birds, DDT interferes with calcium deposition in the eggshells. The eggs shells are extremely thin and therefore easily broken. For more information on toxic chemical effects, check out the copper toxicity answer on the OceanLink website at http://OceanLink.island.net/ask/pollution.html. 5. Radioactive waste: The world's oceans have been a sink for radioactive waste from the production of nuclear weapons and electric power since 1944. Radioactive waste enters the ocean from nuclear weapon testing, the releasing or dumping of wastes from nuclear fuel cycle systems, and nuclear accidents. Dumping of high-level radioactive waste is no longer permitted in the ocean, but dumping of low-level wastes is still permitted. Low-level waste contains less radioactivity per gram than high-level waste. High-level wastes usually have longer half-lives. For example, one common high-level waste that is produced by spent nuclear fuel has a half-life of 24,100 years! It has been suggested that contained nuclear waste should be disposed in the deep sea. So little is known about the deep sea environment or the consequences of containment leakage and failure, that the effects could be devastating. 6. Thermal pollution: Electrical generating plants along the ocean coastlines use the marine waters for cooling purposes which leads to heated water expelled into the marine environment. Few studies have been done on the effects of thermal pollution on the marine environment. Thermal pollution seems to only effect the communities immediately adjacent to the discharge. Thermal discharge is most noted in the tropical areas, where organisms are near their thermal maximum. For example, mangrove trees in a thermal heated bay no longer reproduce and no new seedlings can be found in the lagoon. 7. Eutrophication: The release of excess nutrients into coastal waters. Fertilizers used on land are washed into the ocean via rivers and streams. High nutrient concentrations cause phytoplankton blooms such as, red tides, various yellow and green foams, slimes, and slicks. Although algal blooms are natural, a higher frequency of their occurrence in the past twenty years indicates an unhealthy ecosystem. The toxicity of recent blooms are increasing, which can have a direct effect on the organisms that feed on them. Also, phytoplankton naturally contains DMS (dimethyl sulfide) which is released from dead phytoplankton into the atmosphere and can be changed to sulfuric acid to eventually contribute to acid rain. There are also a lot of great
resources on the net I suggest you check out:
Q: How does marine pollution affect whales and other ocean animals? A. While the overall impact of pollution on the marine environment is unknown, contaminants introduced by rivers, coastal runoff, ocean dumping and various other activities are beginning to take their toll on the oceans. More than 80% of all marine pollution originates from land-based sources which are primarily industrial, agricultural and urban. Whale populations are coming under increasing stress from pollution, eutrophication and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination. PCBs are one of many man-made
chemicals used in the production of plastics and styrofoams- Ozone depletion brought about by the burning of fossil fuels, such as oil and gasoline, is also thought to be indirectly harmful to whales. This is particularly true in the southern hemisphere where ozone depletion has resulted in increased levels of ultra-violet B radiation (UV-B) reaching the earth's surface. UV-B is known to have significant negative biological effects on phytoplankton, the species of marine algae which form the basis of the marine food chain, and krill, a diet staple for many species of baleen whales. By limiting the consumption of fossil fuels, we can actually help protect the whale's ecosystem by keeping the food chain intact. Greater protection of the world's oceans, seas and rivers is vital to provide a livable habitat for whales and other marine species.
Q: How can we help the marine creatures after an oil spill? A. There are a variety of ways that we can help animals after an oil spill. For example, the fur of sea otters is important for keeping these animals insulated and warm. When otters get covered with oil, the insulating properties of their fur is reduced and otters can die from hypothermia as a result. These animals can be assisted by capturing them and removing the oil from their fur with a detergent solution. For sea birds, similar techniques are used. The oil gums up birds' feathers, reducing the insulation properties and preventing them from flying. Without some kind of treatment, most birds and mammals will die within a short period of time after becoming oiled. There are a variety of other animals that are difficult to help. Larger mammals, such as whales, and most fish species are difficult to assist. These animals typically ingest the oil while feeding, and the toxicity of the ingested substances usually proves fatal. Toxins accumulate in the tissues of these animals (as well as invertebrates), and after repeated short-term exposure, these animals will quickly die. That is why clean-up efforts immediately after an oil spill are critical. The faster the oil is cleaned up, the fewer animals are affected. So perhaps the best way we can help marine organisms is to have a quick response time and an organized clean-up effort in the face of an accident. Overall, the best approach is to prevent these types of disasters in the first place. A combination of reduced marine transport of oil products, strict safety guidelines, and effective response teams are all important contributions to the welfare of marine animals that are often overlooked.
Q: There is a group of five of us who have to decide if Charleston, South Carolina is a good spot to put an oil plant. To ship oil around the world. I was wondering if you had any information on the marine life or physical information on the bay that is located there. And what would happen to the marine life and the area if an oil tanker crashed and spilled a lot of oil in the bay. And if you have any maps of that area too. A: Unfortunately I do not have any maps or information on the bay located in Charleston, however I can provide you with some information about the effects of oil on marine life and habitats in general. The effects
of an oil spill of marine life depend on a number of physical
and biological factors. Firstly, the amount, characteristics
and distribution of the oil spilled during the accident. The Secondly, environmental conditions such as salinity, water temperature, and type and slope of shoreline will determine habitat effects and clean-up procedures. Some example habitats include sandy beach, mud, cliffs, estuaries and open water. A bay might have a low flushing rate, resulting in high mortality and difficult spill control if the oil persists in the sediments. In terms of difficulty of clean-up and relative vulnerability, a salt marsh ranks the highest, followed by eelgrass, mud, mixed-fine sediment, mixed-coarse sediment, rock, sand, algae (kelp) and open water. Finally, biological characteristics of the organisms affected will determine the severity of impact. These characteristics include the type of species, life stage (larval, juvenile or adult) and size. Plankton which are contaminated with oil will affect higher levels of the food chain, which may concentrate the oil or its derivations to a point where toxicity results. Oil is extremely toxic to phytoplankton, especially in a bay area where concentrations of both oil and plankton tend to accumulate. Benthic marine algae are usually less sensitive to oil pollution than plankton, however indirect impacts on other organisms could be significant since seaweeds are a source of food and shelter for fishes and invertebrates. Molluscs in
protected, shallow bays would be affected by smothering, tainting
and concentration of toxic components. Molluscs, crustaceans
and fishes are all highly susceptible to oil pollution during
their egg, larval or juvenile stages. Oil trapped in sediments
may be released slowly over a number of years, resulting in chronic
effects on the local benthic organisms. Adult fish are usually
able to avoid large oil spills, however spawning grounds Other organisms to consider include marine birds and marine mammals. Head down to your local library for some books on oil pollution, and check out the following websites for additional information: 1) Prince William Sound: An Ecosystem in Transition 2) Bibliography of Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council Funded Research 3) Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: Fate and Effects in Alaskan Waters 4) Oil Spills in the Great Lakes Basin
Q: What is the yearly amount of oil pollution into the ocean? How can we prevent it? A. Approximately 3.25 million metric tons of petroleum(oil) products enter the earth's oceans every year, however, contrary to what most people think, for the most part this pollution does not come from oil spills. Oil spills make up only about 10 percent of the oil input into the ocean and oil field blow outs account for another small proportion of oil pollution. Low level oil pollution on the other hand, accounts for more than half of the oil entering the ocean. Low level oil pollution comes from leaks at marine terminals, disposal of drilling muds from offshore operations, municipal and industrial wastes, urban runoff into rivers, and atmospheric fallout from the incomplete combustion of oil in motor vehicles. Only a small fraction of the world's used oil is recovered, the rest simply goes down the drain and away into the sea.
Q: What materials do you use to clean up oil spills? A: The best way to prevent oil pollution is to stop them before they even occur. Boats carrying oil, should follow protocol and safety measures to ensure that the oil spill never occurs in the first place. What you can do to help is to use less oil in your every day life, by car pooling, riding your bike or taking public transit (of course this is up to your parents, but you work with them to make a change). If an oil spill occurs there are methods that are used to clean-up the spill. Cleaning oil spills is extremely difficult and many methods have been developed. Only a few cleaning methods actually help and they are not entirely efficient. When an oil spill occurs it is important to try to clean it up before it reaches the shoreline, because when oil reaches beaches it is impossible to clean the beach without harming the plants and animals living there. Here are some methods used to clean-up oil spills at sea: 1. Dispersants: Oil can be broken down more quickly by spraying dispersants (chemicals) on the oil slick from boats or planes. This method only works on fresh, small oil spills. 2. Booms: A boom has a floating skirt suspended down in the water and a sail holding it above the water line. The floating skirt stops the oil from passing. These are used to prevent oil from entering delicate and protected areas. 3. Slick-lickers: This method uses a belt of oil absorbing material that sucks up the oil from the ocean water. The oil is then squeezed out of the absorbing material into a collecting bin. As I said before, when the oil reaches a shoreline or beach the clean-up is much more difficult and the effects on living organisms is more extreme. In fact, most oil clean-ups on the beach actually do more harm than good. Here are some of the methods used to clean-up oil spills on beaches: 1. High Pressure Water: Spraying water at high pressure, in an attempt to "spray" rocks and flat surfaces clear of oil. The sad fact is that by using this method they are also killing all the plants and animals that may have survived the oil spill. 2. Dispersants: Use chemical agents to break up the oil on the beach. 3. Removal: Dispersants are useless on pebble or sand beaches, because the chemicals are readily washed away, so surface sand or pebbles are physically removed by bulldozers or by hand. 4. Plants: Using cut vegetation or straw to absorb the oil. Sometimes the algae growing on the rocks absorb the oil and can cut off the rock. There is not one method that works efficiently at cleaning oil. In fact most methods are extremely destructive on the plants and animals living there.
Q: How has pollution in the ocean effected the sea environment? Pollution is a big problem that has negative effects on all of the planet's ecosystems, including the oceans. The ocean is commonly used to dispose of waste materials, and many of these substances are toxic to living creatures. These substances diffuse through large volumes of water, which makes them less concentrated and more dispersed. However, marine animals concentrate toxins in their tissues, and over time, the toxins can accumulate and eventually kill the animals. Pollution is definitely one of the biggest threats to the ocean environment.
Q. I need some information on why balloons are bad for marine wildlife, and why they are bad in general. Thanks! A. In general,
balloons (especially when they are released in huge numbers)
contribute to the general pollution of the marine environment,
or indeed, any environment. Even when they are Plastic pollution, including discarded or lost balloons, is particularly damaging to the marine environment. Plastic does not decompose easily, and often floats, making it particularly attractive to wildlife. Marine animals like some sea turtles and birds are prone to eating plastic, and can die from intestinal blockages. In particular, sea turtles feed on jellyfish, and mistake plastic bags or balloons for their natural prey, and ingest them. According to Elliott Norse (see reading list), on Midway Island, 1,600 km from the nearest land, all 300 Albatross chicks examined had plastic in their stomachs, including plastic toys, bottle caps, and balloons. Some aquariums,
like the Georgia Marine Aquarium, encourage a lady bug or dragonfly
release instead of having balloon releases to celebrate special
events. They are available Balloons are
probably not the biggest problem in terms of marine plastic pollution,
but they do contribute to it.
Q: If you were to pick one threat to the marine environment, what would you select as the most troublesome? A. I think that I would choose pollution as the greatest threat to the marine environment, simply because it is such as widespread phenomenon that is detrimental to all marine organisms. Overfishing is also a big one, but it is limited to certain species of organisms. Pollution is a big problem, and the pollutants take a variety of forms. Collectively, everything from raw sewage to oil spills to industrial effluents to garbage (litter) has a tremendous impact on the marine environment. In many countries the ocean is considered a "dump", a place that makes for easy disposal of wastes. Largely, this mentality is due to the incomprehendable vastness of the world's oceans. It is often difficult for people to understand that if you pollute in one small area, that the pollutants will diffuse and pollute entire oceans. I recently answered a question relating to copper toxicity and metal contamination in the oceans. You may want to check that out for references and for an example of how marine pollutants can affect the biology of the animals that live there.
A. You're right - the topic of marine pollution in general is a pretty big one! There are many different threats to the worlds oceans today. What is the biggest threat? --that's pretty much a matter of opinion. There are lots of different treats to the ocean. It is perhaps the combination of all of these threats that are the biggest risk. One thing that we think is pretty important is pollution in the oceans caused by plastics. Plastic does not break down easily - it may persist for many years - even decades. When it does break down, it turns into small pieces which are easily eaten by marine animals. These small bits may make an animal "think" that it is full of food, when in fact it is starving to death. Animals can become entangled in plastic debris as well. "There
are 34 Billion plastic bottles produced yearly in the USA alone.
Because of their strength, buoyancy and durability, plastics
make up more than half of all of the anthropogenic (made by people)
debris found at sea and on coastlines" (Norse, 1993. Global
Marine
Q: In which locations is pollution the most severe? A: Areas in the marine environment
that have higher concentrations of marine pollution are USUALLY
in areas where there is a lot of human activity. These are just a few ideas where more polluted marine areas may be located, but it is of course a generalization. It is important to realize that pollution is an extremely general term that leaves a lot to be interpreted.
A. We're assuming that you mean "Pollution" and not "pulion"!!!! This is really
more of a political or sociological question than a marine science
question, but here goes. Many of us agree that marine pollution
is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. Plastics pollution,
oil pollution, dumping of garbage, pollution from rivers and
non-point pollution from agriculture are all affecting the world's
oceans. Often, large corporations that are responsible for much
of the pollution do not see an economic reason to stop polluting.
They are making money, and they are not financially damaged by
polluting the A grass-roots, community based program can often make quite a difference. We often sit around wondering why "somebody" is not doing something about a problem, without realizing that the "somebody" could be us! As the saying goes: Think Globally, Act Locally". There are many things that you can do today to help slow the spread of marine pollution: Recycle plastics, and encourage others to do so. Get a group together and clean up a local beach. Learn more about marine pollution; where it comes from and how it can be reduced - do you know where your local garbage goes? Does your local community have a good sewage treatment plant? Share your knowledge with others. You can make a difference!
Q: What can we do to keep people from polluting? A: Stopping marine pollution all begins with you! Here are some solutions to pollution that you can do! 1.Treat it Wisely: Sewage (everything that you flush down your toilet) usually goes to a sewage treatment plant and here chemicals and helpful bacteria help to break down the stuff in sewage, so that it can be released into the environment in less toxic forms. You can help by making sure nothing but human and food wastes go down the toilet and drains. This means no poisons or harsh chemicals that would kill the bacteria that actually process and purify our wastes. Reducing the amount of water going down the drain will help to reduce demands on our sewage systems. Taking fewer and shorter showers, flushing less often, and using less water with every activity from brushing teeth to washing dishes will make a difference. 2. Oil pollution: Oil contributes to a large source of pollution in the marine environment. Some things you and your parents can do are to keep your boat and car engines well maintained will reduce levels of air pollution, and taking care not to spill oil and gas while refuelling minimizes the oil and gas that run off our roads and driveways and into our waterways 3.Minimize hazards: Most of our household cleaners can be replaced easily with simple ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and elbow grease. Properly discarding hazardous chemicals from our homes is now made easier through organized "toxic roundups". Call the Recycling Hotline at 1-800-667- 4321 for more information. 4.Limit Litter: Re-evaluating all of our purchases with a few simple questions is the first step to reducing the potential for litter to find its way into the oceans or onto beaches. Do I need this item? Is it overpackaged? Can the waste be recycled or disposed in an environmentally-sensitive way? Any of the 4Rs, reduce, reuse, recycle, and refuse applied to anything and everything we purchase, will be a step toward ecologically sustainable living. 5. Drop Heavy Metals: There are things we can do in our homes to limit heavy metal pollution. Checking each of the items we buy, especially paints, for their heavy metal ingredients is a start. Learning more about product ingredients and their effects on living things will help us to reduce our ecological shadows. Using proper hazardous products disposal for all necessary paints, antifreeze, and cleaners is essential. 6.Phase Out Phosphates: Minimizing the use of detergents with phosphates helps reduce excessive nutrient loading in local bodies of water. Use phosphate free detergents and soaps. 7. Be Active: People
cause marine pollution. And people can stop toxic pollution It is up to people like you who care about our environment and to educate other people on what they can do to help.
Q: I am suppose to write a scientific article titled " Crown of Thorns Outbreaks- impacts to the coral reef ecosystem and marine biodiversity ". My question is, what are the impacts to the marine biodiversity and how serious are they? Are there any efforts going on now in the South East Asian Region to curb these outbreaks? Could you offer me some links to current projects? A. I'm assuming in your question that you're asking what the threats to marine biodiversity are, or how humans are impacting marine biodiversity, particularly in coral reef systems. When talking about biodiversity we can generalize threats to biodiversity into 5 groups, represented by the acronym HIPPO. H - Habitat loss: Many plants and animals have very specialized habitats defined by specific physical (substrate, light, nutrient flow, temperature) and biological (interactions between animals - food, symbiosis or other) factors. Human activities can often destroy the physical environment to the extent that very few or none of the original species can still exist in the area. In this way, entire ecosystems can be destroyed. Habitat alteration can come in the form of heat and noise pollution, logging, construction, agriculture, fishing, dredging, trawling, damning, anchoring and trampling(to name a few). In coral reef systems, dynamite fishing is a good example of habitat destruction. Coral reefs support a huge diversity of fish, plants and invertebrates, thus when the coral is destroyed by dynamite the ecosystem is altered and biodiversity is severely reduced. I - Introduced species: Also known as biological invasions, biological pollution, or nonindigenous species, these are organisms transported by human activities, either intentionally or accidentally, into regions where they do not, or have not naturally occurred. The introduction of exotic species can arise from activities such as fisheries, mariculture, aquarium trade, scientific research, canals that link previously unconnected water bodies, and shipping. Humans can also personally transport seeds or small species to new areas on clothes or in the treads of shoes. Exotic species can be detrimental to biodiversity because they can out compete native species for natural resources and can thus lead to fundamental changes in natural communities. P - Population: One of the basic principles of ecology is that larger animals are less abundant than smaller animals. Because larger animals require more resources to live, an ecosystem cannot support as many of them. Humans however, have long been an exception to this rule and the human population continues to grow at an outstanding rate. As humans multiply they continue to consume, divert, and destroy the resources that they have become accustomed to. Many terrestrial resources have already become exhausted and the oceans are being sought after more and more to fill the void. The human population either initiates or contributes to all other threats to biodiversity. P - Pollution: The ocean has long been thought of as a sink for undesirable by-products, as wastes seem to simply dilute and disappear. I'm sure you know though, that the sea has a limited capacity to absorb such waste and it is beginning to take a heavy toll on coastal ecosystems. Pollution can take the form of both chemical and solid waste. Chemical pollution can take the form of trace metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, copper, zinc, iron, arsenic; petroleum products, namely oil from spills and chronic seepage; radioactive forms of hydrogen, carbon, potassium, and uranium; and synthetic organic compounds such as PCB's, DDT, and HUH (hexachlorohexane). Such materials are toxic to the environment and are harmful to biological processes and thus can decrease biodiversity. Nutrient chemical pollution, that comes primarily from sewage, is perhaps an even bigger problem. Excessive nutrients can cause unnatural and uncontrolled growth of some species at the expense of others and thereby reduce biodiversity. For example, reef coral rely on algae within their tissues to supply most of their energy and they grow and survive best in clear waters with very low nutrients. Added nutrients can stimulate the growth of phytoplankton that can cloud the water and prevent sunlight from reaching growing corals, or benthic algae that competes with the coral for light and space. Chemical pollutants are of particular concern because once they are released into the environment they are practically impossible to retrieve. Prevention therefore, is a much more effective and less costly means of dealing with pollution than cleaning it up or suffering the consequences. Solid waste takes the form
of plastics, metal, paper, and glass thrown or washed into the
ocean in mass quantities. Plastic, because of its strength, durability
and buoyancy makes up the greater part of all debris found in
the ocean and is by far the most harmful. Marine mammals, birds,
turtles, fish, and crabs can often become entangled in plastic
loops, strings and bands that can entangle them, wound them or
prevent them from swimming. Marine animals are also very susceptible
to ingesting all forms of plastic debris, in particular cigarette
filters. I hope this gives you a good overview of the threats to marine biodiversity. Each of these topics in and of themselves are very in depth and require much more reading for complete understanding. Just by thinking about the things that you and the people around you do in everyday life and relating them back to the ocean, i think you will begin to see how severely the human race has affected biodiversity in some parts of the world. As far as ongoing projects dedicate to helping biodiversity in South East Asia, I only know of a few. Coral Cay Conservation based in Indonesia and the Philippines, is a project dedicated to providing resources to help sustain livelihoods and alleviate poverty through the protection, restoration and management of coral reefs and tropical forests. Project Seahorse based in the Philippines and Vietnam, is a team of biologists and social workers committed to conserving and managing seahorses, their relatives and their habitats while respecting human needs.
A: To find a picture that
demonstrates the effects of plastic pollution my suggestions
are to search more on the web or simply draw one of your own. Here are a few suggestions of things that you and your classmates can do in your everyday lives to help protect biodiversity: - Use less water! Stay in
the shower for less time, install water saving devices on showers
and toilets, turn off water when brushing your teeth or shaving. Good Luck!!
A: First of all, you need to understand that when we discuss metals, we need to clarify what state the metal is in. For the most part, an element in its natural, solid metal state in rocks is not a major concern. Metals can also exist in ionic form, where the metal ions (Cu,Fe,Al,etc....) are complexed with other ions to form ionic compounds. For example copper (Cu2+) can unite with sulphate in seawater (SO4 2-) to form copper sulfate (CuSO4). This ion, along with many other metal ions, is soluble in seawater and is extremely toxic to marine organisms. Metals can also form complexes with inorganic and organic molecules in a process known as chelation. Chelates usually consist of molecules with a ring structure with the metal ligand in the center. Soluble metals are naturally occurring in the marine environment. Metals can enter the ocean via weathering of rocks, leaching of soils and vegetation, and volcanic activity. However, humans also contribute metals to the ocean in a variety of ways. Mining and smelting of ores, disposal of industrial waste, burning of fossil fuels and processing of raw materials for manufacturing are all human sources of soluble metals in the marine environment. Rainwater also carries significant concentrations of cadmium, copper and zinc from the atmosphere to the oceans. Most plants and animals require minute concentrations of metals to grow properly. The metals are used by the organisms to produce enzymes and proteins that perform critical metabolic functions (for example, chlorophyll contains magnesium ligands while haemoglobin in blood contains iron). In very small concentrations metals like copper, zinc, iron, sodium, magnesium, and cobalt are considered essential micronutrients and are required for the proper growth and development of most plants. Therefore, in low concentrations, metals actually act as nutrients for the tiny plant-like organisms called phytoplankton that live in the ocean. However, high concentrations of metal ions or chelates can be toxic to a variety of organisms. Plankton are especially susceptible to metal contamination. The metals can interact with crucial enzymes, inhibiting their function. Toxic effects on phytoplankton can include the following: 1) cessation of growth and
development Even though copper is an essential micronutrient, it is the second most toxic metal next to mercury. Copper is believed to interfere mainly with the function of cell membranes. The metal is believed to interfere with the permeability and binding of other essential metals. Once it has entered the cell, Cu can bind to the thiol (-SH) groups of enzymes, disrupting the conformation and function of these biomolecules. In addition, copper may also exert its toxicity in organelles by interfering with mitochondrial electron transport, respiration, ATP production and photosynthesis in chloroplasts. Copper also has similar effects on marine vertebrate and invertebrate species. Ingested and absorbed metals interfere with the metabolic machinery of the cells of these animals. For more information on the toxicity of metals in the marine environment, look for these titles:
Q: Do you have any information in favour of legislation to protect certain water ecosystems? A. Internationally, the UN convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III) is the current authority on what constitutes sovereignty over the marine environment. Most of UNCLOS III policies are now part of international law. It recommends that management of coastal resources be shared among all parties that have a stake in them. Nationally and locally, legislation varies widely around the world, and is often pretty complex. You should contact local, provincial (state) and national authorities in your area to determine what laws exist to protect freshwater and marine ecosystems. Marine Parks (provincial/state and national) are becoming more common in Canada and in the USA. Certain special areas like estuaries are often protected by local authorities. National laws often try to control the overall effects of pollution. The combination of all of this complex legislation will hopefully help to protect our water ecosystems.
Q: What is the definition of pollution? A: This is a great question!
Q: I was wondering
with this so called hole in the atmosphere - will that effect
marine life and the parts of salt per thousand?
There is also a process that
is actually called "ocean dumping," and this is the
release of sediments in one area that were collected in an ocean
dredge. This process disturbs the environment at the ocean floors,
burying and killing many of the benthic organisms (organisms
living on the ocean floor). In a few months to a few years, the
benthic environment may be recolonized, but the species makeup
may be different than the original. If the dredged sediments
contain any of the above human effluents, then the process may
be quite harmful... Q: What are three or four
very destructive effects of ocean dumping?
Q: Please tell me about Global warming... A: Global warming is a theory that suggests the planet's temperature is slowing increasing. When heat from the sun enters the earth's atmosphere, the gases there trap some of the heat. This process, called the "Greenhouse Effect," is what allows life to exist on earth. Otherwise it would be just too cold. However, scientists are suggesting that human activity such as car emissions and air pollution has altered the chemical composition of the atmosphere. Levels of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide – heat trappoing gasses – are increasing. As a result, more and more heat is being trapped in the earth's environment. Temperatures are reported to have increased 1-2 degrees celcius in the last century. The consequences of this include: droughts, rising sea levels, and shifts in global weather patterns. For lots of great info on global warming check out the EPA's site: also, check out the latest edition of Ocean News: dedictated to Climate Change
Q: Hi! I wonder if you could let me know about thermal pollution espeacially the effect of the thermal pollution on our ocean and health? Thanks!! A: Thermal pollution affects the ocean in a negative way. Increases in water temperature causes a change (lowering) of dissolved oxygen levels. This disrupts the body of water's ecological balance, resulting in the suffocation of some plant and animal species while encouraging the overgrowth of others. The overgrowth and suffocation causes a cascade reaction with other organisms that are dependant on the ones that don't survive and with organisms that now have to compete with the overgrowing organisms.
Q: What is biological amplification
and what effect might this have on top consumers? A: Bioamplification is a phenomonen where levels of toxic pollutants (such as heavy metals and PCB's) increase as we move up the food chain. This can also be called biomagnification. This happens because primary producers only absorb small amounts of toxins. But, then herbivores eat many primary producers, so they accumulate a higher concentration of toxins. And then consumers that eat the affected herbivores consumer even higher levels of toxins. Because top consumers (like killer whales for example) are at the very top of the food chain, they are consuming and accumulating the highest levels of toxins. It has been suggested that in top predatory odontocete whales, extremely high levels of toxins are present and possibly having a deleterious effect on their immune and reproductive capabilities. This especially problematic because these high levels of toxins are generally passed to their offspring in utero. For more info see this website: http://www.iet.msu.edu/toxconcepts/toxconcepts/bioaccum.htm
Q: What are the advantages and disadvantages (harmful impact) of beach cleanup by machinery? A: Advantages of machine cleanup of oilspills are that they get the job done quickly. Spills will be gone and the beach can be looking great in a fewdays. Unfortunately, a closer look will reveal that often most of the organisms on the beach have been killed in the process. Pressure washing with hot fresh water cooks invertebrates on the rocks and ruptures their outer cells, usually killing them. Any mechanical devices will not discriminate between organisms and oil, and therefore crunch them to death. The ecological costs of cleanup are sometimes greater than the spill itself! some people think that it's simply best to let nature take its course, the oil will eventually break down, evaporate or disperse.
Q: Tell me about the impact of effluents from desalination plant on marine life. A: There are several concerns
about the impact of desalination plants on the marine environment.
Various chemicals used to clean pipes and to pre-treat the water,
are later washed out in the effluent. One of the largest concerns
is the release of highly-concentrated salt water, sometimes into
estuaries and rivers, where the salt content is obviously much
lower than in the open ocean.
Q:What are the Causes and Effects of Marine Toxic Pollution? A: There are many different
types of toxic waste pollution and many of them cause various
problems to marine life. Mercury poisoning is from industry
and accumlates in the animals at the top of the food chain.
It can cause potential birth defects and nervous system damage.
Dioxins come from the paper bleaching process and some herbicides
and cause chromosonal aberations in marine life. PCB's (Polychlorinated
Biphenyls) and PAH's (Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons) cause
birth defects, reproductive problems and chromosonal problems
as well. PCB's come from older electrical equipment (electrical
transformers) and hydraulic fluid while PAH's come from oil
spills, road runoff and burning wood and coal. Radiation is
another major toxic pollution source in the ocean but it is
less well understood. Its effects are likely to be similar
to those on humans but not enough is understood to make more
than very general statements.
Q: What exactly is Euthrophication? Is is different for aquatic and marine eco-systems? A: Eutrophication is a process
where the nutrient levels are very high for the volume of water.
Basically the nutrient levels are high enough to cause massive
algal blooms for an aquatic (freshwater) environment. Eutrophication
can be a normal process of the environment but humans can also
help it along by releasing such things as detergents, sewage,
phosphourous and industrial wastes. In a lake environment with
a high level of eutrophication the levels of dissolved oxygen
will be lower at the deeper parts of the lake. This environment
does not support normal trout development but can support species
such as carp (in extreme cases) and bass.
Q: What are the effects on marine life around an aquaculture pen? A: Basically the ground underneath the salmon aquaculture pens is dead of almost all organisms from pollution. Not a lot of information is really known about the overall effects of aquaculture and whether the ocean can flush most of the pollution out. The best bet to monitor the effects of aquaculture pollution would be to test the aquaculture site and compare it to a series of other sites ranging out from the pens. Perhaps in time scientists can understand the full impact of pollution from aquaculture.
Q: What are some ways in disposing of used marine paints? A: Proper disposal of paints is very
important because paint can cause damage to the environment if
disposed of improperly. Your best bet to dispose of marine paint
would be to take it to a paint disposal facility if your community
has one.
A: Both cleanup methods that
you have listed have their ups and downs. Some of the chemical
compounds can harm animals not killed by the oil pollution. However
the chemical methods remain one of the best ways for cleanup
in the open ocean where other methods are not practical. Other
methods include absorbents (typically these just absorb the oil
and do little or no damage to the environment), oil booms which
trap the oil in a confined space and oil skimmers which skim
the oil from the surface.
Q: I am giving a speech to cleanup the beach here after a fireworks show. I want to know the toxic effects of the fireworks on the beach and how to clean them up. A: From what I have found
fireworks are not considered a major threat to the beaches and
oceans. There may be an impact especially from ash-fallout from
the fireworks displays. From the research I did some fireworks
have substances that give the fireworks their color patterns.
However there was no listing as to how these different chemicals
affect any marine animals.
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