Overview of Marine Pollution

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Questions and Answers

What percentage of ocean pollution is estimated to be runoff from land sources?

50%

100%

90%

80% (correct)

Which type of waste constitutes approximately 90% of all floating materials in the ocean?

Metal

Glass

Plastic (correct)

Paper

How many animals, including seabirds and mammals, are killed annually by marine debris?

500,000

100,000

2 million

>1 million (correct)

What is a significant consequence of dead zones in marine environments?

Oxygen deficiency in water Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated annual amount of oil that contributes to marine pollution?

3.25 million metric tonnes Signup and view all the answers

According to the WHO definition, what is one way that marine pollution occurs?

Direct or indirect introduction of substances by humans Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT listed as a major marine pollutant?

Car exhaust Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the potential impacts of marine pollution on human health?

Hazards to human health Signup and view all the answers

Which type of waste is NOT considered a marine pollutant?

Beverage containers Signup and view all the answers

What is a common cause of oil spills?

Accidental spills from drilling operations Signup and view all the answers

Which incident is commonly associated with a significant oil spill?

Santa Barbara channel platform blowout in 1969 Signup and view all the answers

What effect does oil pollution have on marine organisms?

Covers their bodies and reduces insulation Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a source of atmospheric deposition in coastal waters?

Industrial emissions Signup and view all the answers

Which oil spill is recognized as the worst in America's history?

Gulf of Mexico BP rig blowout in 2010 Signup and view all the answers

Which pollutant is categorized as agricultural runoff?

Pesticides and herbicides Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the least direct human causes of pollution in coastal waters?

Thermal energy discharge Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main sources contributing to marine pollution?

Overuse of marine resources Signup and view all the answers

Which type of marine pollution is characterized by short-term effects?

Oil spills Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a direct discharge source of marine pollution?

Sewerage Signup and view all the answers

What kind of pollution is caused by accumulated runoff from urban areas?

Non-point source pollution Signup and view all the answers

What can be a consequence of marine pollution on human activities?

Risk to human health and livelihoods Signup and view all the answers

What is a common effect of long-term exposure to organic mercury?

Memory problems Signup and view all the answers

What impact did DDT have on certain bird species?

Production of thin egg shells Signup and view all the answers

How do PCBs primarily enter the marine environment?

Via leaks and discarded equipment Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding halogenated hydrocarbons?

They can accumulate in marine organism tissues Signup and view all the answers

What unique characteristic do halogenated hydrocarbons possess compared to petroleum hydrocarbons?

Not degrading by oxidation or bacteria Signup and view all the answers

What does marine litter consist of?

Human-created waste found in the sea Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a potential result of large exposures to organic mercury?

Seizures and death Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of PCBs that affects reproduction in animals?

They decrease reproductive rates Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary consequence of excessive algal growth in coastal waters due to nutrient pollution?

Reduction in water clarity Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a source of nutrient release into marine waters?

Wastewater effluent Signup and view all the answers

The reduction in phytoplankton species diversity is primarily a result of which process?

Eutrophication Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of low dissolved oxygen content in marine environments?

Mass mortalities of marine organisms Signup and view all the answers

Which parameter indicates a healthy water body with respect to dissolved oxygen levels?

<blockquote> 3 mg/l </blockquote> Signup and view all the answers

Sediment pollution in coastal areas predominantly results from which of the following activities?

Agriculture and deforestation Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential consequence of harmful algal blooms?

Decreased oxygen production Signup and view all the answers

Which waste management approach is likely to contribute to nutrient pollution in coastal waters?

Combined sewer overflows Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended allowable limit for Total Phosphorus in marine water quality standards?

1 mg/l Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following organisms is particularly vulnerable to anoxia resulting from nutrient pollution?

Corals Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

### Marine Pollution Overview

Over 80% of ocean pollution originates from land-based sources
Nearly 90% of floating ocean debris is plastic
Marine debris is responsible for the deaths of over 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals and turtles annually
Dead zones, areas with oxygen-depleted waters, have drastically increased in the past decade

### Major Marine Pollutants

Over 10 billion tonnes of ballast water containing invasive species are released into the ocean
Around 10,000 million gallons of sewage are dumped in the ocean annually
Over 3.25 million metric tonnes of oil enter the ocean annually
Millions of tonnes of solid waste, including debris, are deposited into the ocean annually
Thousands of tonnes of dangerous heavy metals enter the ocean

Marine Pollution Definition

The introduction of substances or energy, such as heat, into the marine environment, causing harmful effects or impacts.
The impacts include hazards to human health, marine life, hinderance of marine activities, impairment of water quality, contribution to climate change, and aesthetic degradation.

Causes of Marine Pollution

Increasing coastal populations and activities
Overuse of marine resources, such as overfishing
Inadequate waste management facilities

Pathways to Marine Pollution

Direct Discharge:
- Acid mine drainage
- Sewage
- Industrial effluents
- Inland mining
Indirect Land Runoff:
- Farming practices
- Urban runoff
- Runoff from roads
- Seaports
Transport (Ship) Pollution:
- Oil spills
- Discharge of cargo residues from bulk carriers
- Noise pollution that disturbs marine wildlife
- Ballast water
- Invasive species
Atmospheric Pollution:
- Wind-blown dust and debris, including plastic bags
- Acid rain
- Particulate matter
Deep Sea Mining

Pollution in Coastal Waters

Coastal pollution affects marine life and human activities.

Types of Marine Pollutants

Oil and its waste products:
- Drilling waste
- Produced waters
Toxic chemical waste:
- Heavy metals
Agricultural runoff:
- Nutrients
- Herbicides
- Pesticides
Energy: (Thermal and light)
Sewage:
Solid waste:
- Plastics
Radioactive waste:
Atmospheric Deposition:
Sedimentation:

Oil Spills

Oil spills can occur from intentional dumping or accidental spills during drilling and pumping, leaks from marine terminals, leaks from shipwrecks, and storm-related washout.
Impacts of oil spills: death of organisms, loss of animal insulation and buoyancy, and economic losses.
Oil can coat marine organisms and render their fur or feathers useless.

Brief History of Oil Spills

Torrey Canyon (1967): Wrecked oil tanker, polluting the coast of England and France
Santa Barbara Platform Blowout (1969): Oil platform explosion, polluting the Santa Barbara Channel
Amoco Cadiz (1978): Supertanker ran aground, causing a major oil spill off the coast of Brittany, France
Exxon Valdez (1989): Oil tanker ran aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska
Erika (1999): Oil tanker ran aground in French Brittany, causing a major oil spill
Prestige (2002): Oil tanker ran aground off the coast of Galicia, Spain
BP Deepwater Horizon (2010): Oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, causing the worst oil spill in U.S. history

Nutrients and Eutrophication

Fertilizers used in agriculture, sewage, power plant emissions, and household products contribute to nutrient pollution.
Excess nutrients promote excessive algal growth (eutrophication), leading to oxygen depletion and fish kills.
Sources of nutrient release: wastewater effluent, runoff from agriculture and urban areas, and sewage overflows.

Impacts of Eutrophication

Over-productivity of algae
Reduced phytoplankton diversity
Harmful algal blooms
Reduced dissolved oxygen in water
Anoxia (lack of oxygen) and death of marine organisms

Marine Sediment Pollution

Excessive sediment runoff from construction, agriculture, and deforestation can smother marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs.

Mercury Pollution

Long-term exposure to organic mercury can cause tremors, skin pain, blindness, vision problems, walking difficulty, memory problems, seizures, and death.

Pesticides (DDT)

DDT was a widely used pesticide that became concentrated in marine fish, causing thin egg shells in birds like pelicans and ospreys.
DDT has been banned from agricultural use worldwide, but it is still used for limited public health purposes.

PCBs

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are industrial chemicals used in electrical equipment.
They enter the marine environment through leaks and discarded equipment.
PCBs accumulate in animal tissues and can affect reproduction.

### Halogenated Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons containing chlorine, fluorine, bromine, or iodine.
They are not easily degraded by bacteria or chemical oxidation.
Impacts: Low water solubility, persistence in the environment, fat-soluble (accumulate in tissues), lethal to animals, and potential for transmission through food webs.

Debris and Plastic Pollution

Marine litter is human-made waste that has ended up in the ocean.
Plastics make up a significant portion of marine debris.

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Description

Explore the critical issues surrounding marine pollution, including its sources and major pollutants affecting marine life. This quiz covers the impact of plastic, sewage, invasive species, and other contaminants in our oceans. Test your knowledge on the statistics and definitions related to marine pollution.