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Water pollution is the act of making water unsafe for living organisms living in these ecosystems. Ocean pollution occurs when dangerous substances like chemicals or microorganisms are subjected to oceans, rivers, and other water bodies hence affecting the quality of water and organisms within the environment. Water is always prone to affluence because they are considered a universal solvent. It can liquefy more substances than any other liquid on earth hence making the ocean to be easily polluted by these substances. Toxic substances from farms and towns cause most ocean pollution and factories subjected to water bodies easily dissolve in water, causing water pollution. Fertilizers and pesticides leached from landfills and septic systems make ocean waters contaminated hence unsafe for human consumption. A high percentage of ocean pollution originates from the land, whether along the coast or far inland. Marine debris like plastics also constitutes some pollution in oceans since they are blown by the wind and carried by storm drains and sewers. Oil spills and leaks from ocean machines also cause pollution in ocean waters, and they are constantly sopping up carbon pollution from the air.
“The presence of pollution in oceans has various consequences; for instance, it leads to excess nitrogen and phosphorous in the ecosystem” (Mishra et al., 188). Even though most plants require these elements to grow when highly concentrated, it can lead to algal blooms, making algae overrun the ecosystem. When the pollutants sink and decompose in ocean waters, the oxygen found in the water is exhausted. These areas are considered dangerous because they cannot support aquatic life, making marine animals unable to survive (Mishra et al., 188). This will make fish and other ocean animals move away from these areas leading them to extinction. This debris is very hazardous even if they lack chemical content, and it can affect the lives of marine animals. “Some of the unnecessary metals and plastics, broken glass, and parts of the ships are very harmful to ocean users who can contact them” (Mishra et al., 189). This trash that is subjected to oceans affects human health and recreation and can also make it hazardous for ships to find their way. Marine organisms like fish can sometimes consume these pollutants can affect the health of humans who feed on these fish. Coastal pollution contaminates seafood and makes it dangerous for human consumption.
“The ocean pollutants cause harm to marine animals in several ways, like oil spills will entangle and choke oceanic animals by affecting their gills” (Avio et al., 5). When these oil spills get into the seabird feathers, it will affect their ability to fly or feed their young ones. These crude oil spillages are also harmful because they can cause cancer, lead to behavioral changes, and make marine organisms unable to have children. “Oceanic animals are also strangled by plastic debris like plastic bags and fishnets when they confuse them as food, and this will reduce the population of these animals in the Ocean” (Avio et al., 8). Examples of vulnerable animals from plastic debris include fish, sharks, seabirds, and dolphins. Oil spills also prevent sunlight from reaching marine plants, and this affects the process by which these plants make their own food. They can also lead to effects on the skin, eyes, and liver in most ocean users. Most ocean debris does not decompose quickly in water, making them remain in the Ocean for many years. While they are in the Ocean, they use a lot of oxygen to decompose, making oxygen levels in the water go down. “When there is a reduction in oxygen levels in the Ocean, the story of survival of marine animals like whales, sharks, and dolphins will be affected, leading to their extinction” (Rosenfeld et al., n.p). As explained above, noxious chemicals are considered dangerous for marine life. These include chemicals from pesticides that build up in the fatty tissues of these animals, causing failures in the reproductive systems.
“Pollution on ocean waters can also have an effect on the food chain, in that the chemicals used in agriculture and industries get washed into the rivers and later taken to oceans. Upon reaching the Ocean, they don't dissolve making them be ingested by small animals, which large animals again eat, which affects the whole food chain” (Chatterjee et al 56). When humans consume these fish, they will impose health infects on them since they are held in the tissues of these people and can cause cancer, congenital disabilities, and long-term health problems. “These ocean pollutions can be prevented through the improvement of infrastructure that can limit the amount of pollution” (Kooi, Merel, et al., 7963). Some agricultural practices like the excess use of chemical fertilizers should be reduced to reduce the rate of chemicals being washed into the oceans. In this case, farmers should be advised to use organic fertilizers, which have low nutrient content and they should use them at half strength to avoid pollution. Plastics and trash should be disposed of appropriately so that they should not end up in oceans. To help encourage proper disposal, people are advised to allow input of everyday waste items. “People are also advised to opt for reusable bottles and utensils because if they are not correctly disposed of, they contribute to the highest percentage of ocean water pollution (Avio et al., 9).
Water pollution has been a dangerous activity since it has negatively impacted the lives of humans and marine animals. Since oceans are considered the most significant water bodies on earth, ocean pollution has spread harmful substances like oil, plastics, and industrial and agricultural wastes that affect the diversity of marine animals. Oceans are believed to be providing a home to a wide variety of marine animals and even plants. Every human being is advised to avoid ocean pollution, hence protecting the lives of these marine animals and their own lives. According to the research, most of these pollutants make their way into the Ocean from human activities carried out along the coastlines, and the most significant source of pollution is runoff. These are due to activities done in the urban and agricultural sectors. The current research shows that a high percentage of plastics are being disposed of into the oceans and they don't degrade quickly hence affecting the lives of marine animals.
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