...Oceanic Pollution and its Effects on Society “Around 8 million tons of plastic ends up in the oceans every year”,(Milman 1). Nowadays in our everyday society, plastic is used constantly from cups and plates, to bags and pencils. It is this same plastic that ends up in the world’s oceans due to various means of transportation, where it then harms the existing life and ecosystems present. Until something is done to combat this issue, the pollution will never cease to increase. Oceanic pollution harms the world’s oceans, it’s marine life, and ultimately ourselves due to the overwhelming influx of pollutants, and lack of action against it. The formal definition of marine pollution is as states, “Oceanic pollution also known as marine pollution is the spreading of harmful substances such as oil, plastic, industrial, and agricultural waste and chemical particles being released into the ocean”,(NOAA). Essentially there is no one cause to marine pollution, therefore there is also no one effect or solution to it either. Marine pollution is the accumulation of waste being emitted into the ocean both via natural, and unnatural means. A few of the most notable causes of marine pollution would include the following: sewage, industrial, land runoff, large scale oil spills, ocean mining, and littering. To go more into...
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...National Geographic Society. “Great Pacific Garbage Patch.” National Geographic Society, National Geographic, 9 Oct. 2012, www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/. The National Geographic has been known of posting many articles and videos about the concern and awareness of the water pollution of the Pacific Ocean. The article that is chosen is about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the National Geographic has many photo evidence of the harmful effects of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The article puts in perspective of how serious the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is by using quotes from captains that have sailed by the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and statistics of the mass size. The article will be supporting...
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...The article is called “Oceans of pollution” (Al Jazeera, 18 June 2012), Dahr Jamail. He shows the plastic pollution in the oceans on the Earth’s crisis. If the issue is not addressed, it will be unpredictable long-term consequences, with a mass extinction of ocean species. His rhetorical goals of explaining are quotations from scientific experts, cause-and-effect reasoning, and powerful visual imagery. The stimulus for the article was a series of scientific studies that demonstrate the dramatic worsening of ocean pollution in recent years. According to author, massive gyres of plastic garbage are developing in oceans that are harm to fish, turtles and other creatures. “Dead Zones” – where are algae blooms which runoff of nitrogen and phosphorus...
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...Do you think ocean pollution is an issue? Well, over two thirds of Earth's surface is covered by water and all of it has been affected by some sort of pollution. Ocean pollution causes many chemicals and foreign substances to get into our air, water, and food, killing the wildlife and affecting the cleanliness of our waters; it is extremely important for us to all come together in order to stop ocean pollution. "The single biggest problem in reaching international agreement on a topic lies in convincing sovereign nations with different goals, opposing political systems, and fluctuating positions in day-to-day politic that their interests all lie in the same direction" (Cousteau 106). Pollution gets into the ocean from many sources but has...
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...have been spilled into the ocean. The specific damage of these pollutants to animals in the ocean is mentioned in the article “Who is responsible for marine debris? The international politics of cleaning our oceans”. Plastic debris and trash caused malnutritions in sea animals, since the consumption of waste in the ocean make them feels like they are full and no longer need to in. While in fact, the plastic and trash they consumed have no nutritious values to keep the sea animals healthy. Plastic debris can also caused damage to internal organs of these animals, causing internal bleeding that can lead to a premature dead. And according to the EPA, also...
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...is not only dynamic but also holistic and seeks to produce results of the complex problems. Systems thinking is the only critical way to solve complex issues impeding sustainability challenges and develop quality solutions. Since its conception in 1920 by Jan Smuts Holism, it has developed and solved many issues (Gharajedaghi p.2013 558). Pollution is a complex issue which is intertwined in different processes and impacts in diverse ways. Thus, the topic is significance in pursuing ways to help solve the pollution. Ocean pollution also referred to as marine pollution is a wicked problem which has been increasing in complexity day in day out. This is because of the increasing population growth which stands at 7.2 billion worldwide (Noga & Wolbring 2013 p.3615). The increased industry establishment is directly proportional to chemical waste which settle in the oceans. It causes death of marine animals and plants hence poor marine ecology. The aim of this essay is to use the knowledge and skills acquired in role of systems thinking to address Ocean pollution as a sustainability challenge. It will explore various sources of ocean pollution, types and elucidate possible strategies which could be adopted as mitigation...
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...Marine Pollution The ocean is the most valued resource in human society. “The oceans provide humans with energy and mineral resources, food, and climate moderation, as well many other commodities and services.” (Desonie 87) Oceans, How We Use the Seas Chapters 8 through 10 of Oceans, How We Use the Seas; Dana Desonie informs the reader about the cause and effects of marine pollution, as well as what pollutes our oceans and how, and the types of pollutants that enter our oceans. Marine pollution is when unnatural substances enter the ocean. Dana explains the type of pollutants that enter our oceans such as plastics, man-made chemicals, heavy metals, oil, sediments, nutrients, and even radioactivity. Many pollutants infiltrate our oceans...
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...Sarah Miyashita English II PAP Huston 8th May 9th, 2013 The Effects of Ocean Pollution on Animals The planet that we live on is made up of a vast majority of water, consisting of five major oceans of the world: The Pacific, The Atlantic, The Indian Ocean, The Southern Ocean, and also the Arctic, making up approximately 71% of the earth’s surface. The largest amount of oil entered into the ocean due to human activity is 363 million gallons, from industrial waste and automobiles. The pollution and littering of the ocean has become a major problem in these times affecting the natural habitat of many animal species. The government and citizens of the country need to engage in actions that will reduce or hopefully banish the amount of contamination affecting all ocean ecosystems. Ocean pollution is a misfortune that could be, without difficulty, preventable if people simply took the time to dispose of waste and trash appropriately. Once an oil spill occurs along a coastline, it will affect the wildlife population living around it for many years to come and leave a lasting impact. Many animals meet their end whenever the slick oil trickles down their fur, feathers, or scales, all while decreasing their surface area so they are no longer sheathed from the cold water ("Ocean Planet"). The animals might also consume the oil or waste, thus becoming ill and eventually unable to produce offspring properly, later affecting their population even more. Since the 1970s, many laws...
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...1 Atmospheric Pollution and Global Warming: A Real Problem 2 Atmospheric pollution is becoming a bigger and more serious problem as the years go by. What was once thought to be a myth, has now become a threat to species all over the world. The thought of global warming is still laughed at today, but there is enough evidence to prove that it is not a joking matter. In the last one-hundred years, the Earth's temperature has risen by 1.4 degrees farenheit. It is expected to rise by 2 to 11.5 degrees farenheit in the next hundred years (epa, 2014). The weather and the climate has changed as well, and there is proof all around the world. Extreme weather is becoming the norm. There has been a drastic change in rainfall and this has some parts of the world at risk for flooding, or drought. Heatwaves have also become more extreme (epa, 2014). In some places, winters and summers are stretched out, seeming to never end. If the world continues to experience this type of weather, our society and environment will face some major challenges (epa, 2014). Most of these challenges are happening because of human activity. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are emitted into the air every single day. Deforestation, some agricultural practices, and industrial processes are part of the problem, but the burning of fossil fuel is the worst. Fossil fuel is burned as a way to produce energy, and the effects are dangerous. These gases also have an effect on our health and...
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...Ocean Pollutants Found in Tuna Weaken the Immune System There is actually an island of garbage twice the size of Texas in the Pacific Ocean. Has anyone ever wondered where all that trash came from? Where all that trash ends up? Or who gets affected by it? A solution should be made for ocean pollution for the sake of ocean life, but specifically, Yellowfin tuna. Ocean pollution is caused by many reasons, oil spills. Fertilizers, garbage, sewage disposal, and toxic chemicals. Ocean pollutants found in Tuna are weakening our immune system, is affecting the entire food chain, and is also harming sea life. With this in mind, ocean pollution is being detrimental to not only Tuna, but also the ocean and humans as well. As an illustration, ocean pollutants were found in Yellowfin tuna and is making our immune system weaker. Meaning, “Persistent Organic Pollutants, or POP, affected an important cellular protein found in most animals and plants.” (Ocean Pollutants Found in Tuna Weaken the Immune System, TakePart) TakePart also explains that, “The protein, called P-gp, usually ejects toxins from the body. But the team found that all 10 pollutants weakened P-gp’s protective function.” In other words, pollutants were found in yellowfin tuna which affects our protein cells and also weakens our immune system. Thus, ocean...
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...The variety of ocean creatures in an aquarium is supposed to represent the real variety of the ocean but at this rate, it may not stay that way for long. While the general idea is that the big threat to marine species is their natural predators, in reality a more silent and deadly killer threatens to wipe out thousands of marine animals: ocean pollution. Ocean pollution kills thousands of birds, fish, and sea mammals alike every year, by toxic particles released in the water and being strangled by plastic alike. How many species have been killed off by pollution, let alone ocean pollution, may never be known. To preserve all of the planet’s species, action must be taken. Ocean and beach pollution must be stopped to prevent the destruction of...
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...for Help Pollution is caused by many day to day activities that we don’t even notice. There are also different types of pollution, but they all result in the same thing, earth is slowly dying. Pollution is harmful to both the environment and the creatures that inhabit it, including humans. If you are wondering what the most harmful causes of pollution are, look no further, because you should consider the terrible causes of air pollution, sewage, and oil spills, as well as the effects that they have on the environment. Air pollution is one of the most common ways that the earth is polluted. Air pollution is caused by many things including exhaust fumes from cars, manufacturing factories and the household and farming chemicals. The fuel that is used in cars includes fossil fuels, which emit carbon dioxide into the air, causing global warming. Power plants also burn oil and coal, which releases poisonous gases into the air, which may result in acid rain. Air pollution effects many people across the world as well as the environment. “Health experts have known for years that air pollution increases the risk of a wide range of ailments, including respiratory problems and heart disease. Some compounds in the air we breathe, such as diesel exhaust, have already been deemed cancer-causing.” (Barboza). It is not only a major risk to health, it’s also a leading environmental cause of cancer death. There were 220,000 people that died of lung cancer due to air pollution in 2010...
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...been a continuous activity for more than a decade, One can not help but wonder why offshore drilling continues when considering the pollution caused, how it eliminates the supply of natural resources, murders innocent sea creatures, and actually damages the national economy. There are, however, solutions to this problem. Before solutions can be presented, it is important to discuss the various problems. First, offshore oil drilling results in both sea and land based pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, claims that "with offshore drilling comes substantial routine pollution in the forms of oil and gas." By routine, the EPA means "a near constant flow from oil rigs and derricks" (Sisskin). Nothing is ever done about the pollution, and until something is done about the oil being put into the sea, our oceans are at risk. So just how much oil is put in the oceans? According to a study conducted by the World Research Institute, "...between 3 and 6 million tons of oil are discharged into the oceans every year" (Gorman 48). To put this in perspective, that is approximately 4 football stadiums filled to the top with oil. That is just every year...and this has been going on for more than a decade. In total, 45 million tons of oil in the past ten years that have been put into the oceans. There are several ways that oil ends up in the oceans. One method is through drilling accidents and another is through spillage from tankers and other transports. These large concentrations...
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...Humans have caused a serious problem where the oceans are warming, ice caps melting, and arctic oceans becoming poisoned. This problem is called climate change and can have a serious on the impact of humans and life on earth. Some governments have deemed this an issue, and are beginning to put regulations and precautions. Like the United Nations other countries should look into trying to use cleaner fuels and stop pollution as much as possible. Some of the main causes of climate change are greenhouse gasses and the effect of the sun’s energy and sun reflection. Greenhouse gasses are on of the main reason for climate change. Greenhouse gasses are any gaseous compound in the atmosphere that is capable of absorbing infrared radiation, which...
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...Natural Resources and Energy Paper SCI/256 July 09, 2013 . Marine Ecosystem Out of all of the large and natural resources available for generating electricity in the United States, it is the ocean. Ocean energy may be the last investigated for its potential. The ocean is so vast and deep, until recently, it was assumed that no matter how many chemicals or how much trash humans dumped into the ocean, the effects would be negligible. Dumping into oceans have even got the catchphrase: “The solution to pollution is dilution” (National Geographic, 2013) Impacts Associated With Agriculture Pollutants from agriculture have affected the marine’s ecosystem in ways that may not be reversible, and may also be slowly harming rivers, streams, and coastal waters. Pesticides and fertilizer are two major components that have disturbed the marine’s ecosystem; both contain harmful chemicals that can be hazardous to living organisms in the water. Fertilizer and pesticide run-off from large farms may have initiated bursts of marine algae which may disrupt the ocean’s ecosystem by causing massive blooms in marine waters (Schwartz, 2005). Winds cause nitrogen and other nutrients from the seafloor to surface, which promote the growth of algae called phytoplankton. Phytoplankton is a main source of food for many living organisms in the marine waters. Agricultural pollutants may have triggered phytoplankton to produce harmful blooms in tides, which are giving-off poisonous toxins to marine life...
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