{"id":243,"date":"2021-04-15T20:17:34","date_gmt":"2021-04-15T20:17:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/envs95spring2021\/?p=243"},"modified":"2021-04-15T20:17:34","modified_gmt":"2021-04-15T20:17:34","slug":"ocean-pollution-the-basic-info","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/envs95spring2021\/2021\/04\/15\/ocean-pollution-the-basic-info\/","title":{"rendered":"Ocean Pollution: The Basic Info"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Ocean<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Issue<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are two main types of ocean pollution that are cause for concern. The first is plastic, and the second is chemical. Both plastic and chemical marine pollution are largely caused by humans. As a dominantly consumerist society with generally poor environmental awareness, we litter consistently. This litter is either blown out or washed away to sea. Large trash pile ups, individual pieces, and invisible chemicals all contribute to the degradation of marine health (National Geographic Society). The environmental decline is serious and pressing, yet we are seeing very little action to make a change. Humans tend to align closely with the saying \u2018out of sight, out of mind.\u2019 This idea is made abundantly clear when it comes to ocean pollution. Oceans cover 71% of the Earth, and trash often sinks or conglomerates far at sea. When we don\u2019t encounter the impacts of our littering, it can be hard to remember that it\u2019s sitting in the ocean. It\u2019s crucial that we remember that our actions have consequences and that just because we can\u2019t see our waste, it doesn\u2019t mean it stops existing. Ocean pollution is a pressing issue with an intense lack of action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source<\/strong>: National Geographic Society. \u201cMarine Pollution.\u201d National Geographic Society<\/em>, 27 June 2019, www.nationalgeographic.org\/encyclopedia\/marine-pollution\/#:~:text=Marine%20pollution%20is%20a%20combination,and%20to%20economic%20structures%20worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s Break it Down Further <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s been mentioned that the two main forms of ocean pollution are plastic and chemical waste. Let\u2019s take a deeper look into each of those subjects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

First, plastic<\/span><\/strong>. Plastic pollution can build up in large piles (either at sea or on land), be free floating, or sink. Scientists are estimating that up to 80% of waste that turns up in the ocean or on shorelines is plastic (Barnes). Plastic has detrimental effects on ocean wildlife. Sea creatures are currently struggling with entanglement and ingestion of plastic. Sea birds use plastic to nest, fishing equipment has been seen dragging from the bodies of whales and other larger sea creatures, and turtles consistently drown after getting trapped in fishing nets (Wabnitz). Due to entanglement, the physical health of marine creatures is declining. In extreme cases, plastic entanglement leads to death. Unfortunately, extreme cases are not at all rare. Not only are marine animals getting stuck in the plastic, they\u2019re also ingesting it – at a much higher rate. Society is relatively well educated about sea turtles mistaking plastic for jellyfish and pieces of plastic turning up in stomachs after having been mistaken for a fish. What\u2019s not well known, however, is that plastic is being found in the digestive tracts of marine species at almost all sizes (Law). As larger animals eat smaller animals, the plastic build up continues to grow. Though no plastic should ever be ingested, the more a marine species eats, the faster it will die. Evidently, oceanic plastic pollution is causing a host of issues for marine wildlife.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sources: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n