INTRODUCCION

In the following essay I will tell you about the pollution of the oceans and the
importance of the effects it causes in society and that we realize the serious
problems we face and if we do not change, will worsen. .

The oceans are one of the main sources of life for us, so why not take care of
them? The main waste found in the oceans is found in the majority of sanitary
waste that ends up in the seas of cities. Is it the right place? You think it's nice for
you to enjoy the beach knowing that in its lower part there are organic waste,
toilet paper, sanitary napkins, etc.

In this 21st century, the pollution of the sea is a very worrying topic at present
and is caused by a multitude of factors already mentioned among which,
undoubtedly, plastic predominates.

In recent years, thanks to the studies carried out by a group of researchers, it is

estimated that the plastic capacity in the oceans is 8 million tons per year and
without a doubt this is a global problem that is increasing alarmingly.
POLLUTION OF THE OCEANS

Oceans pollution is a serious problem that directly affects the wildlife of ocean
habitats and, indirectly, human health. Oil spills, toxic waste, illegal dumping and
the accumulation of plastics are just some of the many sources of pollution. In
this sense, awareness programs and environmental education play a vital role in
the fight against the deterioration of oceanic environments.

TYPES OF CONTAMINATION

SEWAGE DUMPING

One of the major types of pollution in the sea is sewage dumping.

Even today, the dumping of untreated or under-treated sewage into the seas and
oceans is still taking place. According to the World Wildlife Fund, about 80% of
urban sewage released into the Mediterranean Sea is untreated. This is because
there are still many cities around the world that have ineffective, little or no
sewage treatment. As the world population continues to grow, beyond the
capacity of available sewage treatment facilities, this sewage problem will only
worsen. Cities are not the only source of sewage pollution in the seas. Sewage
discharged from ships and other large vessels sailing the seas also contribute.

Human sewage largely consists of excrement from toilet-flushing, wastewater

from bathing, laundry, dishwashing and kitchen garbage disposal. The discharge
of sewage sludge into the sea has devastating effects on the marine environment.

Firstly, this sewage serves as food for algae and bacteria, which flourish in the
presence of the sewage food. These organisms then overpopulate the seas and
oceans, use up most of the dissolved oxygen naturally found in water, and upset
the ecological balance in the water bodies. The shortage of oxygen in the water
makes it difficult for other organisms in the water to survive -- the overgrown
population of bacteria and algae is basically strangling the other marine
organisms. Species of fishes and other marine organisms may start disappearing
from the algae-bacteria-infested waters, and in turn, other forms of life that
depend on these fishes and marine creatures for food would be affected. In
serious cases, dead zones may be formed in the seas or oceans, for example,
the Gulf of Mexico and the Baltic Sea, where no marine life could be supported.
Plastic Debris

In the past few decades, plastic is one of the

most dangerous pollutants that has been rapidly
accumulating in the oceans. It is estimated that
the mass of plastic in the oceans could be as
high as 100,000,000 tonnes. All this plastic
comes from numerous sources like discarded
plastic bags, plastic cutlery, straws, six-pack Fig.1 Plastic found on the seabed

rings, and more. All this plastic waste can pose a serious threat to the survival of
marine fauna who can die by ingestion, entanglement, and suffocation. Plastic
fishing nets are known to kill thousands of dolphins, turtles, seabirds, sharks, etc.,
in the oceans every year. Ingestion of plastic waste leads to the slow and painful
death of these animals. Other pollutants also collect on the surface of plastic
debris and magnify there. When such debris enters the human body through the
food chain, it can have disastrous effects on the health of people.

What happens to plastic when it reaches the seas and oceans?

The degradation time of the plastic depends on the

type and environmental conditions to which it is
exposed (sunlight, oxygen, mechanical agents).

In the case of the oceans, UV radiation from sunlight

is the main agent that degrades plastic. The wave
action accelerates this process and as a result the
larger fragments are broken into smaller pieces.

Fig 2. Turtle trapped in plastic

It is difficult to estimate the time it takes to biodegrade the plastic in the oceans
but it is considered to be much slower than on land. Once the plastic is buried, it
passes to the water column or is covered by organic or inorganic matter (all very
common in the marine environment) is less exposed to sunlight, and they lower
temperatures and oxygen, which delays their degradation.
What are the impacts?

The impacts that plastic pieces have on marine life have long been
documented: entanglement, suffocation, strangulation or malnutrition (after
being ingested and blocking the stomach or intestine of the animal). Recently, a
special focus has been placed on the particular problems of microplastics
(fragments smaller than 5 mm). Whether because they come from breaking
larger pieces, or because they are manufactured directly in that size, in our
oceans there are billions of these floating microplastics that have impacts even
on the smallest species that are the basis of the marine trophic network.

Noise

Many species in the marine world rely heavily on their sense of hearing. However,
human activities often introduce unnecessary noise in the marine ecosystem
which is detrimental to life in the area. Noise can be generated by passing ships,
seismic surveys, sonar, oil exploration surveys, etc. Such noise creates confusion
in the marine world by interfering with the acoustic information on which these
species rely for their survival.

OIL SPILL

An oil spill is a discharge of this hydrocarbon that occurs due to an accident or

improper practice that pollutes the environment, especially the sea. These spills
affect the entire ecosystem where the event occurs, which seriously harms
wildlife and fisheries, as well as the coasts with effects that can become very
persistent over time.

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS

Most oil disasters happen in the sea, especially near the coasts where the
ecosystems are more diverse and full of thousands of different species.

Fish can incorporate persistent organic pollutants and the predators that
consume them transmit oil poisoning from one animal to another through the food
chain, putting at risk even the safety of human food.
Birds are among the most vulnerable species, because when they can not fly,
they stay on the beach so as not to hurt themselves even more and end up dying
of cold or hunger.

When there has been an oil spill, the surface of the sea remains with a kind of
dark layer, which obstructs the passage of light and as a consequence affects
the process of photosynthesis of many of the primary organisms, and from there
is also affected the rest of the trophic chain of ecosystems.1

The oil is impregnated in the sediments of the coasts and the soil remains with
the same layer where it also affects the organisms that live there. The coastal
ecosystem can not be regenerated since this hydrocarbon film prevents the
growth of new plants.

The beaches to which this contamination arrives are forced to close due to the
fact that contact with the skin is a threat to public health.

Economically, the oil tides leave thousands of sailors and shellfish workers out of
work, and the sea presents a variety of intrinsic changes in addition to those that
can be seen, because their physical and chemical properties are also affected.1
Meteorization, as it is called the process that gives rise to a spill of this type and
that has an indefinite duration. This process can change the characteristics of the
hydrocarbon such as its chemical composition as well as the meteorological
conditions of the place, that is, the temperature and the state of the sea.
Bibliografia

 http://www.all-recycling-facts.com/3-types-of-pollution.html
 https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-different-types-of-marine-
pollution.html?fbclid=IwAR1up_Mnh_NGg_CsRJFAEcv_ETIrsNYErSd-
KJwnmZu_mUU-NKwwrRyLDnw
 http://archivoes.greenpeace.org/espana/Global/espana/2016/report/plasti
cos/plasticos_en_los_oceanos_LR.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3j5C0EKxXcijfDfv5r3
WO9kyDS24BFeJ9s0DJYuST75pngaQkOro492w
 https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derrame_de_petr%C3%B3leo
What will I do during my next vacation?

On my next vacation I will go to Huaraz. When I arrive, I will go to the city to see
its central square and go to the museum. When the night comes I will go out to
dinner for a delicious Pecan Caldo. At dawn I would like to go to know the
huacarán where I will ski and also climb the snow mountains.