ocean pollution

1. Ocean PollutionOcean Pollution

2. THE OCEANS ARE IN TROUBLETHE OCEANS ARE IN TROUBLE
 OverfishingOverfishing
 Invasive speciesInvasive species
 Pathogens –Pathogens – swimming and shellfishing – earswimming and shellfishing – ear
infections, respiratory disease, gastrointestinalinfections, respiratory disease, gastrointestinal
disease, paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP)disease, paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP)
 Toxic contaminantsToxic contaminants

3. OCEAN POLLUTIONOCEAN POLLUTION
 Oceans, if not overloaded, can disperse andOceans, if not overloaded, can disperse and
break down lots of degradable pollutantsbreak down lots of degradable pollutants
 Pollution of coastal waters near heavilyPollution of coastal waters near heavily
populated areas is a serious problempopulated areas is a serious problem

Especially estuaries, wetlands, coral reefs,Especially estuaries, wetlands, coral reefs,
seagrass beds and mangrovesseagrass beds and mangroves

About 40% of the world’s population lives near onAbout 40% of the world’s population lives near on
or near the coastor near the coast

The EPA has classified 4 of 5 U.S. estuaries asThe EPA has classified 4 of 5 U.S. estuaries as
threatened or impairedthreatened or impaired

4. Fig. 21-10, p. 505
Healthy zone
Clear, oxygen-rich
waters promote growth
of plankton and sea grasses,
and support fish.
Oxygen-depleted zone
Sedimentation and algae
overgrowth reduce sunlight,
kill beneficial sea grasses, use
up oxygen, and degrade habitat.
Red tides
Excess nitrogen causes
explosive growth of
toxicmicroscopic algae,
poisoning fish and
marine mammals.
Farms
Runoff of pesticides, manure, and
fertilizers adds toxins and excess
nitrogen and phosphorus.
Toxic sediments
Chemicals and toxic
metals contaminate
shellfish beds, kill
spawning fish, and
accumulate in the
tissues of bottom
feeders.
Construction sites
Sediments are washed into
waterways, choking fish and
plants, clouding waters, and
blocking sunlight.
Urban sprawl
Bacteria and
viruses from
sewers and septic
tanks contaminate
shellfish beds
Oxygen-depleted
zone
Closed
beach
Cities
Toxic metals
and oil from
streets and
parking lots
pollute
waters;
Industry
Nitrogen oxides
from autos and
smokestacks,
toxic chemicals,
and heavy metals
in effluents flow
into bays and
estuaries.
Closed
shellfish beds

5. HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMSHARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS
 Harmful algal blooms (HABs)Harmful algal blooms (HABs) – explosive– explosive
growth of harmful algaegrowth of harmful algae
 Due to nutrients (nitrates and phosphates)Due to nutrients (nitrates and phosphates)
from sewage and agricultural runofffrom sewage and agricultural runoff
 Harmful effects:Harmful effects:

Water and airborne toxinsWater and airborne toxins

Fish killsFish kills

Reduce tourismReduce tourism

Poison seafoodPoison seafood

6. HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMSHARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS
 Red tides – toxic dinoflagellate, PSPRed tides – toxic dinoflagellate, PSP
 Brown tides – affect Long Island baysBrown tides – affect Long Island bays
 Pfiesteria – causes amnesiatic shellfishPfiesteria – causes amnesiatic shellfish
poisoning, skin lesionspoisoning, skin lesions

7. HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMSHARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS

8. What is
Nitrogen Pollution?

9. DEAD ZONESDEAD ZONES
 Caused by cultural eutrophication –Caused by cultural eutrophication –
nutrient loadingnutrient loading

Nitrogen – limiting in marineNitrogen – limiting in marine

Phosphorus – limiting in freshwaterPhosphorus – limiting in freshwater
 HypoxiaHypoxia – low DO– low DO
 AnoxiaAnoxia – no DO– no DO

10. DEAD ZONESDEAD ZONES

11. DEAD ZONESDEAD ZONES
Hypoxia in Long Island SoundHypoxia in Long Island Sound

12. Core Case Study: Dead Zone in theCore Case Study: Dead Zone in the
Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico
 A large zone ofA large zone of
hypoxia formshypoxia forms
for half of thefor half of the
year in the Gulfyear in the Gulf
of Mexicoof Mexico
 Due to nutrientsDue to nutrients
from agriculturefrom agriculture
from Mississippifrom Mississippi
RiverRiver

13. Case Study: The Chesapeake Bay –Case Study: The Chesapeake Bay –
An Estuary in TroubleAn Estuary in Trouble
 Pollutants from sixPollutants from six
states contaminatestates contaminate
the shallowthe shallow
estuary, but usingestuary, but using
integrated coastalintegrated coastal
management tomanagement to
reduce somereduce some
pollution inputspollution inputs
Figure 21-12Figure 21-12

14. Case Study: The Chesapeake Bay –Case Study: The Chesapeake Bay –
An Estuary in TroubleAn Estuary in Trouble
 Sources of nutrient pollutants include:Sources of nutrient pollutants include:

Point sources – WTP, industrial plantsPoint sources – WTP, industrial plants

Nonpoint sources – runoff with fertilizer, animalNonpoint sources – runoff with fertilizer, animal
wastes from urban and suburban areas andwastes from urban and suburban areas and
farms (manure), atmospheric depositionfarms (manure), atmospheric deposition

15. OCEAN OIL POLLUTIONOCEAN OIL POLLUTION
 Most ocean oil pollution comes from runoffMost ocean oil pollution comes from runoff
from human activities onfrom human activities on landland – dumped,– dumped,
leaked from cars, changing motor oil,leaked from cars, changing motor oil,
industry – chronic (long term, low dose)industry – chronic (long term, low dose)
effectseffects
 Crude oilCrude oil – (as it comes out of ground) –– (as it comes out of ground) –
takes about 3 years for much marine life totakes about 3 years for much marine life to
recoverrecover
 Refined oilRefined oil – (fuel oil, gasoline, etc.) – can– (fuel oil, gasoline, etc.) – can
take 10 – 20 years for marine life to recovertake 10 – 20 years for marine life to recover

16. OCEAN OIL POLLUTIONOCEAN OIL POLLUTION
 Oil spills – tanker accidents and blowouts atOil spills – tanker accidents and blowouts at
offshore drilling rigs – acute (short term,offshore drilling rigs – acute (short term,
high dose) effectshigh dose) effects

can be devastating to marine lifecan be devastating to marine life

VOCs kill aquatic organismsVOCs kill aquatic organisms

Coats bird feathers and marine mammal furCoats bird feathers and marine mammal fur

Sinks and smothers benthic organismsSinks and smothers benthic organisms
 Clean up:Clean up:

Mechanical – booms, skimming, absorbantsMechanical – booms, skimming, absorbants

Bacterial decompositionBacterial decomposition

17. EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILLEXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL
 1989 – Prince William Sound Alaska1989 – Prince William Sound Alaska

Hit rocks, at least 11 million gallons spilledHit rocks, at least 11 million gallons spilled

Fouled 2,100 km of shoreline, response poorFouled 2,100 km of shoreline, response poor

Thousands of jobs affected – especially fishersThousands of jobs affected – especially fishers

Considered on of worst human causedConsidered on of worst human caused
environmental disastersenvironmental disasters

18. DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILLDEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL
 2010 on oil well drilling platform in Gulf of2010 on oil well drilling platform in Gulf of
Mexico exploded – 11 deadMexico exploded – 11 dead
 BP pipe, 5,000 ft. deep, leaked oil for 87BP pipe, 5,000 ft. deep, leaked oil for 87
days before being cappeddays before being capped
 206 million gallons of crude leaked206 million gallons of crude leaked
 Worst U.S. oil spillWorst U.S. oil spill

19. FLOATABLE DEBRISFLOATABLE DEBRIS
 Trash floating in waterTrash floating in water
 Effects:Effects:

UnsightlyUnsightly

EntanglementEntanglement

Consumption by organismsConsumption by organisms

Boating hazardBoating hazard

20. FLOATABLE DEBRISFLOATABLE DEBRIS
 Sources:Sources:

BoatersBoaters

Combined sewer overflowsCombined sewer overflows

BeachgoersBeachgoers

Street litterStreet litter

Ghost netsGhost nets

21. Jim’s Solution

22. COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWSCOMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS
 Storm drains connected to household andStorm drains connected to household and
industrial sewage systemindustrial sewage system
 Dry weather – sent to WTP – treatedDry weather – sent to WTP – treated
 Wet weather – overflows WTP – untreated,Wet weather – overflows WTP – untreated,
raw sewage released:raw sewage released:

Floatable debrisFloatable debris

PathogensPathogens

NutrientsNutrients

23. COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWSCOMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS

24. MICROBEADSMICROBEADS
 Tiny plastic particles – added to cosmetics,Tiny plastic particles – added to cosmetics,
exfoliating products, toothpasteexfoliating products, toothpaste
 Not filtered out by WTPsNot filtered out by WTPs
 Non-biodegradableNon-biodegradable
 Concentrate other toxinsConcentrate other toxins
 Eaten by marine organismsEaten by marine organisms
 Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 –Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 –
prohibits manufacture and use in U.S. afterprohibits manufacture and use in U.S. after
July 2017July 2017 The Story of Microbeads

25. THERMAL POLLUTIONTHERMAL POLLUTION
 Water used to cool power or industrial plantWater used to cool power or industrial plant
 Warm water released – not otherwise pollutedWarm water released – not otherwise polluted

26. THERMAL POLLUTIONTHERMAL POLLUTION
 Effects:Effects:

Entrainment of fish, eggs and larvaeEntrainment of fish, eggs and larvae

Cannot tolerate temperature changeCannot tolerate temperature change

Lower dissolved oxygenLower dissolved oxygen

Alter food webAlter food web

Alter spawning and migration timesAlter spawning and migration times
 To reduce:To reduce:

Reduce energy useReduce energy use

Cooling pondsCooling ponds