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1. INTRODUCTION:-
We have to save our oceans for our own sake. Unfortunately we are still
unaware of this great fact. As a result, they construct industrial areas near the
sea are without any plan, they throw wastes to rivers and sea water
indeterminately. Tons of oils are spills daily in sea water which make laminar or
thick layers on the sea water and makes dangerous effects on sea lives. Thus
ecological balance is disrupted.
For this reason, mass awareness is the main keystone to solve this problem. Our
bays, lakes, rivers, harbors, and finally our sea and oceans are in trouble. Our
sea creatures are showing sign of diseases; garbage is floating on top of the
water; and the water itself is not fit for men to swim. Many beaches are being
closed as they are not safe to go in to the water and it is sometimes not safe to
eat the fish.
In the following report we will see the effects of sea pollution, causes of sea
pollution and possible steps that how we can get rid of this problem.
2. BACKGROUND HISTORY:-
At one time scientists thought that amount of sea water in earth is as vast that it
can dilute all harmful elements delivered by industries and agricultural activities
and also from other sources. Significant laws to prevent sea pollution did not
found before twentieth century. Sea pollution concern was first raised at about
1950 when several meeting of United Nations discussed about ‘the law of the
sea’. Marine sea pollution became a worldwide issue after The Mediterranean
Sea Controversy and campaign carried out against sea pollution. Sea pollution
became more widespread after the 1967 crass of the oil tanker Torrey Canyon
and after the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill off the coast of California. Marine
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pollution was the major concern at “United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment’1972” held in Stockholm.
From the history of United States found that extensive sea water pollution began
about nineteenth century as a result of urbanization, industrialization, and
modern practice in agricultural sectors. Industrial by-products, human sewage
and animal waste joined together and foul pure drinking water. As a result
waterborne epidemic was spread out mainly at New York Cityat 1832. Man
started to purify their drinking water and they realize that sea water is getting
polluted.
After the Second World War, USA started to develop in agricultural sectors.
They used fertilizers which contains high amount of sulfur, nitrogen, and
phosphorus. These elements got mixed with sea water and plants and bacteria
were born which cause oxygen crisis in sea water. As a result fishes and other
animals living in sea became dead and made sea pollution. After those
happenings mass awareness was build up against sea pollution to preserve sea
animals and human health.
With the increase of world population, human waste and other man made
problems increase.
40% of American rivers are too polluted for fishing, swimming, and
for aquatic life.
Mississippi river throws about 1.5 million metric tons of nitrogen
waste every year in to The Gulf of Mexico which comes from farm
land.
1.2 trillion gallons of untreated sewage, storm water, and industrial
waste are discharged every year in to the sea water of USA.
About 25% of US beaches are closed in a year because of sea
pollution.
3.2. Condition of other continents.
Oil is such a chemical which can persist with sea water for many years.
Primarily specific gravity of oil is less than water, so it can see that oil make
laminar or thick layers on water surface. Then it reacts with atmospheric
chemical components, products of which make effect on sea life.
Large oil pollution comes from tanker accident, or tanker clean up illegally.
Large tanker accident of THE Exxon Valdez spills nearly 11 million gallons of
oil into the sea recently.
Land-based petroleum carried out by rain water is another cause of oil pollution.
This includes drips of oils, fuels, and fluid from cars and trucks; dribbles of
gasoline spilled in to the ground at the filling station; and drips from industrial
machinery.
Effect of this oil pollution is so much terrible. Oil and its constituents can
change the ecology of aquatic habitat and the physiology of marine organism.
Components of crude oil, called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs),
persist in the marine environments for years and are toxic to marine life. The oil
penetrates the structure of the plumage of birds, reducing its insulating ability.
Damage its kidney, liver function, and alter total digestive system.
Marine mammals exposed to oil spill are facing problem in similar way. Oil
coats the fur of sea otters and seals reducing its insulation ability, which cause
their body temperature fluctuation and hypothermia.
By the following picture we can show that how oil can effect marine
environment.
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Urban waste consists of garbage dumping, storm water, industrial waste etc.
Urban waste goes through sewage pipe line to sea. Many sewage pipelines were
built years ago when people did not know the negative effect of pollution. And
it was thought that sea would dilute the sewage. Since then amount of swage
has been increased terribly.
Waste from garbage dump taken away by rain water mix with sea water can
cause heavy pollution.
Industries emits large amount of waste every day. These wastes are directly
dumped to river and sea. The toxic and poisonous materials of waste can harm
many plant and animals and our health also. When toxic waste harms an
organism it can quickly be passed along the food chain and imbalance the
ecology.
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Sulfur gas in environment coming from industrial areas and also from cars and
vehicles mixed with air and then with cloud. It causes acid rain. Acid rain is
dangerous for sea water. It kills fish and sea plants.
NH4 (ammonia) pollution basically comes from agricultural sectors.
But living beings produce large amount of ammonia every day. This ammonia is
a compound of hydrogen and nitrogen. So ammonia can be disintegrated in to
these elements causing extra amount of nitrogen in sea water. This nitrogen then
gets mixed with oxygen and form NO2. This is a strong green-house-gas.
Nitrogen-die-oxide cause global warming also.
CH4 (methane) gas comes from industrial and garbage waste. This methane gas
disintegrated to carbon and hydrogen. Extra amount of carbon give birth to
many algae and other sea plant. These sea plants depend on oxygen. So other
animals like fish are dead.
Research found than about 25% sea birds contain plastic fragments in their
digestive system. And their chicks are also dead because of having medium size
plastic piece in their stomach. Not only sea birds but also other animals like
whales, dolphins, seals, puffins, and turtles, are infected by plastic pollution. In
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Ships are used for transport system in deep sea. But different types of
ships cause huge pollution to sea. Exhaust gas contains huge amount
of carbon-die-oxide, nitrogen-die-dioxide, sulfur, excess gasoline and
other elements. Majority parts of these exhaust gas are absorbed by
sea water. That makes water poisonous in various ways.
Ship causes noise pollution also. Many marine organism including
marine mammals, sea turtles and fishes use sounds to communicate,
navigate and hunt. The intensity of noise coming from ship engine has
a negative effect to these living beings.
Oil spills from ship is also a pollutant for sea. A high amount of
lubricating or fuel oil is discharged to sea every day. Dirty water used
by passengers and crews is thrown to sea water. Tons of garbage and
wastes makes sea water polluted day by day.
4.7. Radioactive pollution:-
sea are blast, it emits lava, fumes, hard rocks and many harmful
radiations. These radiations and wastes have permanent impact on sea
environment.
Mining is another type of radioactive pollution. It exposes many
heavy metals and sulfur compounds which were locked in earth core.
Rain water washes away these compounds to sea. Now-a-days mining
also happened in deep sea level. And radioactive pollutants are thrown
to sea water directly without any consideration.
Nuclear power plant emits large amount of nuclear waste which is
highly radioactive. It is also discharged to sea water causing damage
of sea lives and ecosystem.
4.8. Ecological disruption:-
Ecological imbalance is the basic cause of sea pollution. Ecology is the most
important factor which is related to every single factor.
When we talk about global warming, here also ecological facts is arises.
➢ CO2 (carbon-die-oxide)
➢ NO2(nitrogen-die-oxide)
➢ CFCs
These are the main green house gases on environment. They are the main
factors to global warming and melting the polar ice bergs. The sea water levels
become rise up for this. But polar ice is so important for many species living in
seas. Phytoplankton, the base of most aquatic food chain, depends on sea ice to
bloom. As there is less sea ice, so less phytoplankton. Less ice has not only bad
effect on marine life, but also seasonal krill population. Krill (which feed on
phytoplankton) form the base of food chain all over the world.
Ecological disruption has also bad effect on coral reefs. Corals give habitat to
about 25% of all marine life. But because of temperature rise, corals are about
to die. We are about to lost our sea beauties and many species of beautiful
fishes. The following picture shows that how corals and other species living
together.
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5. PREVENTION:-
To solve a problem it is necessary to point out the causes of the problem. We
have seen the basic causes of sea pollution in previous section. Now we proceed
to find the solution of it.
⇒ As waste is a major cause of sea pollution, it should be managed strictly.
Several procedures can be followed. Figure below is called waste
management hierarchy.
And for the big amount of waste we can follow the flow chart given below.
This is called waste minimization assessment.
Select new
assessment targets &
reevaluate previous
options
FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS
➢ Technical evaluation
➢ Economic evaluation
➢ Select option for
implementation
IMPLEMENTATION
Successfully
Chart implemented waste minimization
4:- the waste minimization Repeat
project
assessmentthe process
procedure
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⇒ Reduce fishing when they are too small and leave over fishing. It causes
food chain disruption.
Cleaning task Suitable cleaner
6. RECOMMENDATION:-
Sea pollution is a vast problem. It is not only related to causes described above
but also many other causes make effect on it. But as a whole we can conclude
that the world is in a great problem indeed. We have to bear in mind that it is a
slow process. But its effect is so dangerous and longer lasting. So the people of
the world have to think immediately about this problem. Otherwise dangerous
results are waiting for all of us.
So to keep –
• Our existence
• Animal’s existence
• Plant’s existence
We have to do something right now. Our government and personally we have to
take care of it.
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APPENDIX
Questionnaire
As sea pollution is an important issue in this modern world,
following questions has been given for expecting public opinion
about this problem.
Name:- Age:-
Sex:- Occupation:-
water
a) Yes b) No
a) Yes b) No
a) Yes b) no c)
no comment
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pollution?
problems?
a) Yes b) no
above
water?
a) Yes b) no
LIST OF REFFERENCES
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GLOSSARY
8. Most aquatic organisms are adapted to a specific pH level and may die
if the pH of the water changes even slightly.
2. Plankton – A general term for the entire community of microscopic free-
floating organisms, including phytoplankton, zooplankton, and a host of
other marine organisms. Plankton serves as the primary food source for
most marine ecosystems. Many animals like the blue whale feed entirely
on planktonic organisms.
3. Phytoplankton – Microscopic marine plants that live in the upper layer
of the world’s oceans and float freely in the water column.
4. Microorganism – an organism of microscopic or ultramicroscopic size.
5. Marine Debris – the human litter that is found in the marine
environment.
6. Nitrate – Nitrate is a nutrient needed by all aquatic plants and animals to
build protein. The decomposition of dead plants and animals and the
excretions of living animals release nitrate into the aquatic system.
Excess nutrients, like nitrate, increase plant growth and decay, promote
bacterial decomposition, and therefore decrease the amount of oxygen
available in the water. Sewage is the main source of excess nitrate added
to natural waters, while fertilizer and agricultural runoff also contribute to
high levels of nitrate.
7. Phosphate – a nutrient needed for plant and animal growth and is also a
fundamental element in metabolic reactions. High levels of this nutrient
can lead to overgrowth of plants, increased bacterial activity, and
decreased dissolved oxygen levels. Phosphate comes from several
sources including human and animal waste, industrial pollution, and
agricultural runoff.
8. Sewer System – (also known as a wastewater collection system) the
system of pipes and pump stations that transports wastewater (sewer)
from homes and businesses to the wastewater treatment plant.
9. CFCs- cloro-fluro-carbon, a complex compound of chlorine, fluorine
gases.
10.mL- milli littre (1/1000 of a littre)
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