Ramharakh 1

Anjli Ramharakh

Angela Pedrotti

ENG 1101

21 July 2020

Marine Pollution Research Project

The ocean provides business and victuals for millions and even billions of people. It

regulates the climate, provides many sources of recreation, and produces about half of the

world’s oxygen. However, the oceans are in danger of becoming engulfed by an abundance of

pollutants. The oceans are already filled with “garbage patches”, sometimes referred to as

“islands of trash”, or gyres, consisting of bottles, plastic bags, microplastics, and other various

types of plastics. There is one garbage patch in the Indian Ocean, two in the Atlantic Ocean, and

two in the Pacific Ocean (NOAA). Marine pollution is a huge problem, but there are many steps

the average person can take to decrease its severity and prevent even more pollutants from

entering the ocean.

There are many different types of pollution. Some types include microplastics, non-point

and point source pollution, and algal blooms. Microplastics are small, plastic grains that usually

appear in cosmetics and face wash. Microplastic pollution is so severe because it is difficult for

them to break down in the environment. However, some nations such as the United States have

banned the use of these in favor of biodegradable material, such as apricot pits in face washes.

“The durability of plastics makes it highly resistant to degradation…” says Chatterjee Sharma in,

“Microplastic Pollution, a Threat to Marine Ecosystem and Human Health: A Short Review”.

Sharama is referring to how these plastics take centuries to break down and will remain in the

ocean while their numbers increase. Additionally, because of their small size, microplastics can
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be ingested by many sea creatures and even humans. This can lead to major health problems, and

most likely for marine life, death. Another type of pollution is non-point source pollution, in

which pollution does not come from a singular source. Non-point source pollution can come

from, “…septic tanks, vehicles, farms, livestock ranches, and timber harvest areas” (NOAA). As

opposed to point-source pollution, which originates from a single source. Point- source pollution

can be chemical spills, oil spills or runoff from factories; these events happen less often but have

grave consequences (NOAA). The last type of common pollution category are algal blooms.

Algal blooms occur when a large number of algae sink and deplete the oxygen levels in the

water. Run off from chemical plants or fertilizer from nearby farms or lawns can cause an excess

population of algae to grow in a body of water as a result of the nutrients in the runoff leading to

these blooms. The algae then get too heavy to float on the surface of the water, and sink, thus

consuming the majority of the oxygen in the water, killing its inhabitants (NOAA). Algal blooms

can be toxic to humans as well, therefore beaches and lakes must be closed whenever they occur.

For example, the bloom in Caesar’s Creek in 2019, caused the lake to close (Dayton Daily

News).

Marine pollution is not only threatening the ocean, but also human health. As said

before, algal blooms are very toxic and can cause irritation, neurological symptoms, vomiting,

abdominal pain, diarrhea, and more. Long-term effects are unclear, however, people who have

been exposed have been known to also experience severe kidney and liver damage (CDC).

Microplastics extremely harmful to human health, “The alternate ingestion of microparticles can

cause alteration in chromosomes which lead to infertility, obesity, and cancer… the high ratio of

microplastic pollutants in seafood creates a major risk to food safety” (Chatterjee et all). Since

they take centuries to decompose, their threat will not be going away anytime soon. Even if one
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does not go into the water at the beach, the seafood consumed afterwards can contain these

harmful microplastics, and thus cause potential health problems. Finally, on the news, we hear

about how companies sometimes dump chemicals into the ocean, well how does that hurt the

humans on the mainland? Many companies are notorious for dumping toxic waste off the coast

of Southern Italy, a city called Campania has, “…shown increase in breast and lung cancer in

women and lung, prostate, and colorectal cancer in men…” (Mazza et al). More so, the animals

in the provinces of Naples and Caserta, such as the sheep, show higher levels of dioxins than the

sheep in other provinces away from the coast. Meaning that the soil is soaking up the toxic waste

dumped into the ocean, the animals are eating the grass and the humans who eat the animals risk

getting sick. The chemicals and pollutants are getting passed through the food chain. Whether we

like it or not, humans constantly depend on the ocean and therefore, we are prone to the dangers

that come with marine pollution.

Often times, to spend less money disposing of harmful chemicals, plastics and other

pollutants, companies will throw them into the ocean. For example, the Ramu nickel and cobalt

mine in Papua New Guinea dumps about 14,000 tons of waste into the Basamuk Bay every day,

where locals fish, bathe, and drink from (Earthworks). Companies should be held accountable

for dumping waste and should also find more eco-friendly ways to dispose of their chemicals. It

is our job to hold these organizations accountable for tainting the ocean. Another example of

companies hurting the ocean are all of the companies still using non-decomposable plastic

products. An article by Greenpeace, an international ocean cleanup organization says, “Coke-

branded plastic was not only found in 40 of the 42 participating countries, it’s the only brand to

rank in the top three on all six continents [in pollution]”. There are even Coke bottles in

Antarctica, along with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is hundreds of miles away from
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any land. Alongside of taking several steps yourself to decrease waste, the only way to combat

marine pollution effectively is to stop companies from dumping waste into the ocean and provide

more sustainable packaging for its consumers.

There are many simple but effective steps the average person can take in order to prevent

further marine pollution. One simple way to stop marine pollution is to watch what sunscreen

you put on the next time you visit the beach. “[Scientists] are particularly worried over the role

of two ingredients called oxybenzone and octanoate. These are used as sun protection factors as

they absorb ultraviolet light” (McGrath). These two chemicals are toxic to marine life and

contribute to bleaching coral. Coral is especially important to the environment and the livelihood

of humans. Coral reefs protect shorelines from tropical storms and harsh waves, provide half of

the world’s oxygen and absorb carbon that is released from burning fossil fuels. Instead of your

normal sunscreen, try out a mineral-based sunscreen with non-nano sized titanium oxide or zinc

oxide. These are usually marked with advertisement on the packaging promoting “Reef

Friendly” or “Reef Safe.” Another measure you can take to prevent marine pollution is to, “Trim

down your trash,” and use reusable bags, cups, and straws. When you do need to throw

something away, recycle it if possible. Make sure not to litter and if you see trash lying around,

pick it up! (Smithsonian). The last way to prevent marine pollution is to, “Be Water Wise,” use

little fertilizer, avoid eating fruits and vegetables grown with pesticides, and choose non-toxic

household cleaning supplies like vinegar, baking soda, or lemon juice. Avoiding these substances

will prevent run-off into the ocean (Smithsonian). Even if you do not live by the coast or by a

lake, you can still help save the ocean.

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Since most, if not all, our lives are affected by the ocean, it is especially important that

we take care of it. Excessive consumption, misuse of materials, and neglecting proper disposal

techniques all contribute to the problems that the world’s bodies of water possess. As technology

advances, more solutions will be available to ensure proper clean up, but until then it should be

taken upon oneself as a personal responsibility to be considerate of the environment. Whether it

is tagging Coke in a picture of their bottles floating in the ocean, or just changing out your

sunscreen when you head to the beach, you can make a difference and stop marine pollution.
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Works Cited

“Ditch Ocean Dumping.” Earthworks, 29 June 2020, earthworks.org/campaigns/ditch-ocean-

dumping/

“Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB)-Associated Illnesses.” Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, 3 June 2020, www.cdc.gov/habs/general.html#.

“Harmful Algae Detected at Caesar Creek Lake Beach.” Dayton, Dayton Daily News, 13 July

2019, www.daytondailynews.com/news/local/harmful-algae-detected-caesar-creek-lake-

beach/DJ4cAHovOKfUNGNMyVTwvI/

Mazza, Alfredo, et al. “Illegal Dumping of Toxic Waste and Its Effect on Human Health in

Campania, Italy.” International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health,

vol. 12, no. 6, June 2015, pp. 6818–6831 sinclair.ohionet.org:80/login?

url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=fsr&AN=103455710&site=eds-live

McGrath, Matt. “Coral: Palau to ban sunscreen products to protect reefs.” BBC.com, Nov. 2018,

www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46046064

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). “Ocean Pollution.” NOAA.gov,

Apr. 2020, www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/ocean-coasts/ocean-pollution.

Schleeter, Ryan. “These 10 Companies are Flooding the Planet with Throwaway Plastic.”

Greenpeace.org, Oct. 2018, www.greenpeace.org/international/story/18876/these-10-

companies-are-flooding-the-planet-with-throwaway-plastic/
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Sharma, Chatterjee et al. “Microplastic Pollution, a Threat to Marine Ecosystem and Human

Health: A Short Review.” Environmental Science and Pollution Research, no. 27, 2017,

p.21530. sinclair.ohionet.org:80/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=edsgao&AN=edsgcl.503946417&site=eds-live

Smithsonian. “How You Can Help the Ocean.” ocean.si.edu, Dec. 2009,

ocean.si.edu/conservation/climate-change/how-you-can-help-ocean