Ask a Marine Scientist:
answers to Marine Pollution questions!
Index To Questions
 Types
of Marine Pollution - Received from Nikki in Saratoga,
New York
Q: What is the worst kind
of ocean pollution?....and what kinds of ocean pollution are
there?
A: There is not necessarily
one type of pollution that worse than other pollution. In fact,
it has only be in the past thirty years that we have come to
realize the effects that pollution is having on our oceans. In
the past it was perceived that the world's oceans had an infinite
capacity for absorbing our waste. Recently, we have come to realize
that our waste, even in small quantities, have huge effects on
ocean communities and species.
Some major types of pollutants
that have been the focus of recent research are oil, sewage,
garbage, chemicals, radioactive waste, thermal pollution, and
eutrophication.
1. Oil: You can find
more information on this page!
2. Sewage: This type
of pollution is discharged into the oceans all over the world.
Sewage adds to the amount of small particles suspended in the
water column and contributes large amounts of nutrients. The
effect of sewage is difficult to detect on the open coast, but
in semi-enclosed areas the effects are devastating. Near sewage
outflow areas in temperate waters of California, the benthic
invertebrate communities have degraded, kelp beds have disappeared
and diseased fish have become more prevalent. In tropical waters,
outflows near coral reefs have caused a bloom of algal species
that grows over the coral, and eventually smothers them to death.
3. Garbage: This type
of pollution has a huge effect on ocean life. I suggest you check
out the Ocean Conservancy
and the Vancouver Aquarium's Great B.C. Beach Clean-Up site.
for information on types of marine debris and what you can do
to help.
4. Chemicals: These
are toxic substances that are released by the industrialized
nations and make their way into ocean systems. They are not visible
like garbage and sewage and therefore can sneak their way into
ocean systems undetected. Toxic chemicals often enter ocean systems
through food chains and affect organisms at different times and
places from where they were released. An example of this type
of pollution is DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane). DDT was
used for years as a pesticide on farms. Later it was found that
it does not breakdown, but in fact persists for years; just how
long is unknown. This compound is relatively insoluble in water
and bonds strongly to particles. Although DDT is not used in
the marine environment it enters marine food webs through land
runoff, precipitation and dumping. DDT is absorbed by plankton
but cannot be metabolized. Since, it is not metabolized it accumulates
in the food chain until it reaches the top carnivore, where more
drastic effects are seen. For example, in marine birds, DDT interferes
with calcium deposition in the eggshells. The eggs shells are
extremely thin and therefore easily broken. For more information
on toxic chemical effects, check out the copper toxicity answer
on the OceanLink website at ../ask/pollution.html.
5. Radioactive waste:
The world's oceans have been a sink for radioactive waste from
the production of nuclear weapons and electric power since 1944.
Radioactive waste enters the ocean from nuclear weapon testing,
the releasing or dumping of wastes from nuclear fuel cycle systems,
and nuclear accidents. Dumping of high-level radioactive waste
is no longer permitted in the ocean, but dumping of low-level
wastes is still permitted. Low-level waste contains less radioactivity
per gram than high-level waste. High-level wastes usually have
longer half-lives. For example, one common high-level waste that
is produced by spent nuclear fuel has a half-life of 24,100 years!
It has been suggested that contained nuclear waste should be
disposed in the deep sea. So little is known about the deep sea
environment or the consequences of containment leakage and failure,
that the effects could be devastating.
6. Thermal pollution:
Electrical generating plants along the ocean coastlines use the
marine waters for cooling purposes which leads to heated water
expelled into the marine environment. Few studies have been done
on the effects of thermal pollution on the marine environment.
Thermal pollution seems to only effect the communities immediately
adjacent to the discharge. Thermal discharge is most noted in
the tropical areas, where organisms are near their thermal maximum.
For example, mangrove trees in a thermal heated bay no longer
reproduce and no new seedlings can be found in the lagoon.
7. Eutrophication:
The release of excess nutrients into coastal waters. Fertilizers
used on land are washed into the ocean via rivers and streams.
High nutrient concentrations cause phytoplankton blooms such
as, red tides, various yellow and green foams, slimes, and slicks.
Although algal blooms are natural, a higher frequency of their
occurrence in the past twenty years indicates an unhealthy ecosystem.
The toxicity of recent blooms are increasing, which can have
a direct effect on the organisms that feed on them. Also, phytoplankton
naturally contains DMS (dimethyl sulfide) which is released from
dead phytoplankton into the atmosphere and can be changed to
sulfuric acid to eventually contribute to acid rain.
There are also a lot of great
resources on the net I suggest you check out:
the National Marine Fisheries Service
the Environmental Protection Agency
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Pollution,
whales and other ocean animals - from Danny in Edmonton
Q: How does marine pollution
affect whales and other ocean animals?
A. While the overall impact
of pollution on the marine environment is unknown, contaminants
introduced by rivers, coastal runoff, ocean dumping and various
other activities are beginning to take their toll on the oceans.
More than 80% of all marine pollution originates from land-based
sources which are primarily industrial, agricultural and urban.
Whale populations are coming under increasing stress from pollution, eutrophication and polychlorinated
biphenyl (PCB) contamination.
PCBs are one of many man-made
chemicals used in the production of plastics and styrofoams-
common components of beach trash. Mass die offs of cetaceans thought to be
related to PCBs and
other environmental factors have been increasing in the last decade. For instance,
an increasing number of deaths of Beluga whales (a species of white whale found
predominantly in northern latitudes) have been associated with pollutants like
PCBs. In many instances, the concentration of PCBs found in the tissue of Beluga
whales is so high that their corpses are considered to be hazardous waste and
must be handled as such. Accumulation of PCBs in the tissue of whales is also
thought to alter their physiology and in turn, reduce their ability to reproduce.
Ozone depletion brought about
by the burning of fossil fuels, such as oil and gasoline, is
also thought to be indirectly harmful to whales. This is particularly
true in the southern hemisphere where ozone depletion has resulted
in increased levels of ultra-violet B radiation (UV-B) reaching
the earth's surface. UV-B is known to have significant negative
biological effects on phytoplankton, the species of marine algae
which form the basis of the marine food chain, and krill, a diet
staple for many species of baleen whales. By limiting the consumption
of fossil fuels, we can actually help protect the whale's ecosystem
by keeping the food chain intact. Greater protection of the world's
oceans, seas and rivers is vital to provide a livable habitat
for whales and other marine species.
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Helping
marine creatures after oil spills - Received from Maurice
in Australia
Q: How can we help the
marine creatures after an oil spill?
A. There are a variety of
ways that we can help animals after an oil spill. For example,
the fur of sea otters is important for keeping these animals
insulated and warm. When otters get covered with oil, the insulating
properties of their fur is reduced and otters can die from hypothermia
as a result. These animals can be assisted by capturing them
and removing the oil from their fur with a detergent solution.
For sea birds, similar techniques are used. The oil gums up birds'
feathers, reducing the insulation properties and preventing them
from flying. Without some kind of treatment, most birds and mammals
will die within a short period of time after becoming oiled.
There are a variety of other
animals that are difficult to help. Larger mammals, such as whales,
and most fish species are difficult to assist. These animals
typically ingest the oil while feeding, and the toxicity of the
ingested substances usually proves fatal. Toxins accumulate in
the tissues of these animals (as well as invertebrates), and
after repeated short-term exposure, these animals will quickly
die. That is why clean-up efforts immediately after an oil spill
are critical. The faster the oil is cleaned up, the fewer animals
are affected.
So perhaps the best way we
can help marine organisms is to have a quick response time and
an organized clean-up effort in the face of an accident. Overall,
the best approach is to prevent these types of disasters in the
first place. A combination of reduced marine transport of oil
products, strict safety guidelines, and effective response teams
are all important contributions to the welfare of marine animals
that are often overlooked.
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Oil
spills
Q: There
is a group of five of us who have to decide if Charleston,
South Carolina is a good spot to put an oil plant. To ship
oil around the world. I was wondering if you had any
information on the marine life or physical information on the bay that is located
there. And what would happen to the marine life and the area if an oil tanker
crashed and spilled a lot of oil in the bay. And if you have any maps of that
area too.
A: Unfortunately
I do not have any maps or information on the bay located in Charleston,
however I can provide you with some information about the effects
of oil on marine life and habitats in general.
The effects
of an oil spill of marine life depend on a number of physical
and biological factors. Firstly, the amount, characteristics
and distribution of the oil spilled during the accident. The
distribution of the oil spill will be affected by currents and wind, factors
which are practically impossible to control but which one should be aware of
when considering a clean-up effort. In addition, the amount of oil spilled
will determine the eventual geographic boundaries of the impact area. The physical
and chemical properties of the oil will determine the behaviour of the slick,
in terms of its thickness and rate of spreading.
Secondly, environmental
conditions such as salinity, water temperature, and type and
slope of shoreline will determine habitat effects and clean-up
procedures. Some example habitats include sandy beach, mud, cliffs,
estuaries and open water. A bay might have a low flushing rate,
resulting in high mortality and difficult spill control if the
oil persists in the sediments. In terms of difficulty of clean-up
and relative vulnerability, a salt marsh ranks the highest, followed
by eelgrass, mud, mixed-fine sediment, mixed-coarse sediment,
rock, sand, algae (kelp) and open water.
Finally, biological
characteristics of the organisms affected will determine the
severity of impact. These characteristics include the type of
species, life stage (larval, juvenile or adult) and size. Plankton
which are contaminated with oil will affect higher levels of
the food chain, which may concentrate the oil or its derivations
to a point where toxicity results. Oil is extremely toxic to
phytoplankton, especially in a bay area where concentrations
of both oil and plankton tend to accumulate. Benthic marine algae
are usually less sensitive to oil pollution than plankton, however
indirect impacts on other organisms could be significant since
seaweeds are a source of food and shelter for fishes and invertebrates.
Molluscs in
protected, shallow bays would be affected by smothering, tainting
and concentration of toxic components. Molluscs, crustaceans
and fishes are all highly susceptible to oil pollution during
their egg, larval or juvenile stages. Oil trapped in sediments
may be released slowly over a number of years, resulting in chronic
effects on the local benthic organisms. Adult fish are usually
able to avoid large oil spills, however spawning grounds
could suffer severe damage.
Other organisms
to consider include marine birds and marine mammals. Head down
to your local library for some books on oil pollution, and check
out the following websites for additional information:
1) Prince William
Sound: An Ecosystem in Transition
2) Bibliography
of Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council Funded Research
3) Exxon Valdez
Oil Spill: Fate and Effects in Alaskan Waters
4) Oil Spills
in the Great Lakes Basin
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Yearly
Amount of Marine Oil Pollution - Received from Toppa
in Fremont
Q: What is the yearly amount
of oil pollution into the ocean? How can we prevent it?
A. Approximately 3.25 million
metric tons of petroleum(oil) products enter the earth's oceans
every year, however, contrary to what most people think, for
the most part this pollution does not come from oil spills. Oil
spills make up only about 10 percent of the oil input into the
ocean and oil field blow outs account for another small proportion
of oil pollution. Low level oil pollution on the other hand,
accounts for more than half of the oil entering the ocean. Low
level oil pollution comes from leaks at marine terminals, disposal
of drilling muds from offshore operations, municipal and industrial
wastes, urban runoff into rivers, and atmospheric fallout from
the incomplete combustion of oil in motor vehicles. Only a small
fraction of the world's used oil is recovered, the rest simply
goes down the drain and away into the sea.
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Cleaning
Up Oil Spills - Received from Erica in Washington
Q: What materials do you
use to clean up oil spills?
A: The best way to prevent
oil pollution is to stop them before they even occur. Boats carrying
oil, should follow protocol and safety measures to ensure that
the oil spill never occurs in the first place. What you can do
to help is to use less oil in your every day life, by car pooling,
riding your bike or taking public transit (of course this is
up to your parents, but you work with them to make a change).
If an oil spill occurs there
are methods that are used to clean-up the spill. Cleaning oil
spills is extremely difficult and many methods have been developed.
Only a few cleaning methods actually help and they are not entirely
efficient. When an oil spill occurs it is important to try to
clean it up before it reaches the shoreline, because when oil
reaches beaches it is impossible to clean the beach without harming
the plants and animals living there.
Here are some methods used
to clean-up oil spills at sea:
1. Dispersants: Oil
can be broken down more quickly by spraying dispersants (chemicals)
on the oil slick from boats or planes. This method only works
on fresh, small oil spills.
2. Booms: A
boom has a floating skirt suspended down in the water and a sail
holding it above the water line. The floating skirt stops the
oil from passing. These are used to prevent oil from entering
delicate and protected areas.
3. Slick-lickers: This
method uses a belt of oil absorbing material that sucks up the
oil from the ocean water. The oil is then squeezed out of the
absorbing material into a collecting bin.
As I said before, when the
oil reaches a shoreline or beach the clean-up is much more difficult
and the effects on living organisms is more extreme. In fact,
most oil clean-ups on the beach actually do more harm than good.
Here are some of the methods used to clean-up oil spills on beaches:
1. High
Pressure Water: Spraying water at high pressure, in an
attempt to "spray" rocks and flat surfaces clear
of oil. The sad fact is that by using this method they are
also killing all the plants and animals that may have survived
the oil spill.
2. Dispersants: Use
chemical agents to break up the oil on the beach.
3. Removal: Dispersants
are useless on pebble or sand beaches, because the chemicals
are readily washed away, so surface sand or pebbles are physically
removed by bulldozers or by hand.
4. Plants: Using
cut vegetation or straw to absorb the oil. Sometimes the algae
growing on the rocks absorb the oil and can cut off the rock.
There is not one method that
works efficiently at cleaning oil. In fact most methods are extremely
destructive on the plants and animals living there.
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Effects
of Ocean Pollution - Received from Jennifer
in New Zealand
Q: How has pollution in
the ocean effected the sea environment?
Pollution is a big problem
that has negative effects on all of the planet's ecosystems,
including the oceans. The ocean is commonly used to dispose of
waste materials, and many of these substances are toxic to living
creatures. These substances diffuse through large volumes of
water, which makes them less concentrated and more dispersed.
However, marine animals concentrate toxins in their tissues,
and over time, the toxins can accumulate and eventually kill
the animals. Pollution is definitely one of the biggest threats
to the ocean environment.
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Balloons
and Marine Wildlife (Received from D. Beyer in Virginia)
Q. I need
some information on why balloons are bad for marine wildlife,
and why they are bad in general. Thanks!
A. In general,
balloons (especially when they are released in huge numbers)
contribute to the general pollution of the marine environment,
or indeed, any environment. Even when they are
released on land, they can drift out to sea before they come back down.
Plastic pollution,
including discarded or lost balloons, is particularly damaging
to the marine environment. Plastic does not decompose easily,
and often floats, making it particularly attractive to wildlife.
Marine animals like some sea turtles and birds are prone to eating
plastic, and can die from intestinal blockages. In particular,
sea turtles feed on jellyfish, and mistake plastic bags or balloons
for their natural prey, and ingest them.
According to
Elliott Norse (see reading list), on Midway Island, 1,600 km
from the nearest land, all 300 Albatross chicks examined had
plastic in their stomachs, including plastic toys, bottle caps,
and balloons.
Some aquariums,
like the Georgia Marine Aquarium, encourage a lady bug or dragonfly
release instead of having balloon releases to celebrate special
events. They are available
in quantity from biological supply catalogs.
Balloons are
probably not the biggest problem in terms of marine plastic pollution,
but they do contribute to it.
Answer by Dave Hutchinson
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Primary
threat to the marine environment - Received from Josh
at the College of the Atlantic
Q: If you were to pick
one threat to the marine environment, what would you select
as the most troublesome?
A. I think that I would choose
pollution as the greatest threat to the marine environment, simply
because it is such as widespread phenomenon that is detrimental
to all marine organisms. Overfishing is also a big one, but it
is limited to certain species of organisms.
Pollution is a big problem,
and the pollutants take a variety of forms. Collectively, everything
from raw sewage to oil spills to industrial effluents to garbage
(litter) has a tremendous impact on the marine environment. In
many countries the ocean is considered a "dump", a
place that makes for easy disposal of wastes. Largely, this mentality
is due to the incomprehendable vastness of the world's oceans.
It is often difficult for people to understand that if you pollute
in one small area, that the pollutants will diffuse and pollute
entire oceans.
I recently answered a question
relating to copper toxicity and metal
contamination in the oceans. You may want to check that out for
references and for an example of how marine pollutants can affect
the biology of the animals that live there.
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Primary
marine pollutants - received from Mary in New York
Q: I am beginning a science project on ocean pollution and realize the topic
is too,too big for me to handle without great advice. What appears to be the
most dangerous threat to our seas,our ocean life and to man himself in the
near future? That answer will begin my own journey to writing and delivering
valuable information to my fellow students. MANY THANKS
A. You're right
- the topic of marine pollution in general is a pretty big one!
There are many different threats to the worlds oceans today.
What is the biggest threat? --that's pretty much a matter of
opinion. There are lots of different treats to the ocean. It
is perhaps the combination of all of these threats that are the
biggest risk.
One thing that
we think is pretty important is pollution in the oceans caused
by plastics. Plastic does not break down easily - it may persist
for many years - even decades. When it does break down, it turns
into small pieces which are easily eaten by marine animals. These
small bits may make an animal "think" that it is full
of food, when in fact it is starving to death. Animals can become
entangled in plastic debris as well.
"There
are 34 Billion plastic bottles produced yearly in the USA alone.
Because of their strength, buoyancy and durability, plastics
make up more than half of all of the anthropogenic (made by people)
debris found at sea and on coastlines" (Norse, 1993. Global
Marine
Biodiversity p. 127. see further reading section)
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Most
Polluted Marine Locations - Received from Sarah in
Colorado
Q: In which locations is
pollution the most severe?
A: Areas in the marine environment
that have higher concentrations of marine pollution are USUALLY
in areas where there is a lot of human activity.
1. Cities and towns next to ocean areas usually
have a lot of pollution. Cities pump their sewage into the
ocean,and run-off from streets into storm drains usually go
directly into the ocean as well. Though some cities treat their
sewage before pumping it into the ocean, other cities do not
and even treated sewage can be harmful in high concentrations.
Cities next to the ocean (port cities) are usually located
in areas where there are bays or inlets and these types of
areas do not usually have strong tides or water flow that can
flush out the pollutants. Therefore the pollutants tend to
build up rather than being flushing out into the open ocean
and diluted.
2. Farms in coastal areas are usually located
next to streams and rivers that usually flow into the ocean.
Fertilzers, herbicides, pesticides, and other wastes flow off
the farms into the streams and will eventually end up in the
ocean.
3. Logging is also a major contributor to ocean
pollution. Clear cutting next to ocean results in the soil
being easily washed into the ocean. When it rains the soil
is washed into the ocean because there are no tree roots to
hold the soil in place. Suspended sediment in the ocean water
is harmful because it can clog up the gills of fish. Soil chemicals
such as tannins and organics from the soil can be harmful,
in large quantities to ocean animals.
4. Factories are located next to the ocean can
also be detrimental to the ocean environment by pouring various
effluents into the water. Effluents such as, heated water used
to cool equipment and chemicals used or produced by the factories
are extremely harmful to ocean animals.
These are just a few ideas
where more polluted marine areas may be located, but it is of
course a generalization. It is important to realize that pollution
is an extremely general term that leaves a lot to be interpreted.
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Marine
Pollution - why isn't more being done? - received from
Clarence in PA
Q: Living on the east coast, why isn't their more being
done about pulion and dumping in our ocean.?
A. We're assuming
that you mean "Pollution" and not "pulion"!!!!
This is really
more of a political or sociological question than a marine science
question, but here goes. Many of us agree that marine pollution
is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. Plastics pollution,
oil pollution, dumping of garbage, pollution from rivers and
non-point pollution from agriculture are all affecting the world's
oceans. Often, large corporations that are responsible for much
of the pollution do not see an economic reason to stop polluting.
They are making money, and they are not financially damaged by
polluting the
oceans, so they will not stop. Politicians often lack the political willpower
to control polluters - they are more concerned with getting elected every four
years, and large corporations contribute heavily to their re-election campaigns.
A grass-roots,
community based program can often make quite a difference. We
often sit around wondering why "somebody" is not doing
something about a problem, without realizing that the "somebody" could
be us!
As the saying
goes: Think Globally, Act Locally". There are many things
that you can do today to help slow the spread of marine pollution:
Recycle plastics, and encourage others to do so. Get a group
together and clean up a local beach. Learn more about marine
pollution; where it comes from and how it can be reduced - do
you know where your local garbage goes? Does your local community
have a good sewage treatment plant? Share your knowledge with
others. You can make a difference!
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Pollution
Solutions - Received from Zach Zanco in Issaquah
Q: What can we do to keep
people from polluting?
A: Stopping marine pollution
all begins with you! Here are some solutions to pollution that
you can do!
1.Treat it Wisely: Sewage
(everything that you flush down your toilet) usually goes to
a sewage treatment plant and here chemicals and helpful bacteria
help to break down the stuff in sewage, so that it can be released
into the environment in less toxic forms. You can help by making
sure nothing but human and food wastes go down the toilet and
drains. This means no poisons or harsh chemicals that would kill
the bacteria that actually process and purify our wastes. Reducing
the amount of water going down the drain will help to reduce
demands on our sewage systems. Taking fewer and shorter showers,
flushing less often, and using less water with every activity
from brushing teeth to washing dishes will make a difference.
2. Oil pollution: Oil
contributes to a large source of pollution in the marine environment.
Some things you and your parents can do are to keep your boat
and car engines well maintained will reduce levels of air pollution,
and taking care not to spill oil and gas while refuelling minimizes
the oil and gas that run off our roads and driveways and into
our waterways
3.Minimize hazards: Most
of our household cleaners can be replaced easily with simple
ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and elbow grease. Properly
discarding hazardous chemicals from our homes is now made easier
through organized "toxic roundups". Call the Recycling
Hotline at 1-800-667- 4321 for more information.
4.Limit Litter: Re-evaluating
all of our purchases with a few simple questions is the first
step to reducing the potential for litter to find its way into
the oceans or onto beaches. Do I need this item? Is it overpackaged?
Can the waste be recycled or disposed in an environmentally-sensitive
way? Any of the 4Rs, reduce, reuse, recycle, and refuse applied
to anything and everything we purchase, will be a step toward
ecologically sustainable living.
5. Drop Heavy Metals: There
are things we can do in our homes to limit heavy metal pollution.
Checking each of the items we buy, especially paints, for their
heavy metal ingredients is a start. Learning more about product
ingredients and their effects on living things will help us to
reduce our ecological shadows. Using proper hazardous products
disposal for all necessary paints, antifreeze, and cleaners is
essential.
6.Phase Out Phosphates: Minimizing
the use of detergents with phosphates helps reduce excessive
nutrient loading in local bodies of water. Use phosphate free
detergents and soaps.
7. Be Active: People
cause marine pollution. And people can stop toxic pollution
and reduce nutrient pollution to minimum levels. We can do this as thoughtful
consumers of energy and materials, as people who reduce, reuse, refuse and
recycle, and as citizens who help make the decisions in our communities that
will lead to reduced pollution. Being able to answer questions about our communities
prepares us to think about the action we can take: where do our wastes go in
this community?; where do the natural resources and energy come from?; what
are the industrial and agricultural sources of pollution in this community?
Being informed is an ongoing process we can never know everything and it should
lead to active participation in the decision-making processes. Active participation
might include voting in elections, helping to educate others about the issues,
and becoming involved in committees and environmental action groups.
It is up to people like you
who care about our environment and to educate other people on
what they can do to help.
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Threats
to Biodiversity - Received from Aazani in
Malaysia
Q: I am suppose to write
a scientific article titled " Crown of Thorns Outbreaks-
impacts to the coral reef ecosystem and marine biodiversity ".
My question is, what are the impacts to the marine biodiversity
and how serious are they? Are there any efforts going on now
in the South East Asian Region to curb these outbreaks? Could
you offer me some links to current projects?
A. I'm assuming in your question
that you're asking what the threats to marine biodiversity are,
or how humans are impacting marine biodiversity, particularly
in coral reef systems. When talking about biodiversity we can
generalize threats to biodiversity into 5 groups, represented
by the acronym HIPPO.
H -
Habitat loss:
Many plants and animals have very specialized habitats defined
by specific physical (substrate, light, nutrient flow, temperature)
and biological (interactions between animals - food, symbiosis
or other) factors. Human activities can often destroy the physical
environment to the extent that very few or none of the original
species can still exist in the area. In this way, entire ecosystems
can be destroyed. Habitat alteration can come in the form of
heat and noise pollution, logging, construction, agriculture,
fishing, dredging, trawling, damning, anchoring and trampling(to
name a few). In coral reef systems, dynamite fishing is a good
example of habitat destruction. Coral reefs support a huge
diversity of fish, plants and invertebrates, thus when the
coral is destroyed by dynamite the ecosystem is altered and
biodiversity is severely reduced.
I -
Introduced species:
Also known as biological invasions, biological pollution, or
nonindigenous species, these are organisms transported by human
activities, either intentionally or accidentally, into regions
where they do not, or have not naturally occurred. The introduction
of exotic species can arise from activities such as fisheries,
mariculture, aquarium trade, scientific research, canals that
link previously unconnected water bodies, and shipping. Humans
can also personally transport seeds or small species to new
areas on clothes or in the treads of shoes. Exotic species
can be detrimental to biodiversity because they can out compete
native species for natural resources and can thus lead to fundamental
changes in natural communities.
P - Population:
One of the basic principles of ecology is that larger animals
are less abundant than smaller animals. Because larger animals
require more resources to live, an ecosystem cannot support as
many of them. Humans however, have long been an exception to
this rule and the human population continues to grow at an outstanding
rate. As humans multiply they continue to consume, divert, and
destroy the resources that they have become accustomed to. Many
terrestrial resources have already become exhausted and the oceans
are being sought after more and more to fill the void. The human
population either initiates or contributes to all other threats
to biodiversity.
P -
Pollution: The
ocean has long been thought of as a sink for undesirable by-products,
as wastes seem to simply dilute and disappear. I'm sure you
know though, that the sea has a limited capacity to absorb
such waste and it is beginning to take a heavy toll on coastal
ecosystems. Pollution can take the form of both chemical and
solid waste. Chemical pollution can take the form of trace
metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, copper, zinc, iron,
arsenic; petroleum products, namely oil from spills and chronic
seepage; radioactive forms of hydrogen, carbon, potassium,
and uranium; and synthetic organic compounds such as PCB's,
DDT, and HUH (hexachlorohexane). Such materials are toxic to
the environment and are harmful to biological processes and
thus can decrease biodiversity. Nutrient chemical pollution,
that comes primarily from sewage, is perhaps an even bigger
problem. Excessive nutrients can cause unnatural and uncontrolled
growth of some species at the expense of others and thereby
reduce biodiversity. For example, reef coral rely on algae
within their tissues to supply most of their energy and they
grow and survive best in clear waters with very low nutrients.
Added nutrients can stimulate the growth of phytoplankton that
can cloud the water and prevent sunlight from reaching growing
corals, or benthic algae that competes with the coral for light
and space. Chemical pollutants are of particular concern because
once they are released into the environment they are practically
impossible to retrieve. Prevention therefore, is a much more
effective and less costly means of dealing with pollution than
cleaning it up or suffering the consequences.
Solid waste takes the form
of plastics, metal, paper, and glass thrown or washed into the
ocean in mass quantities. Plastic, because of its strength, durability
and buoyancy makes up the greater part of all debris found in
the ocean and is by far the most harmful. Marine mammals, birds,
turtles, fish, and crabs can often become entangled in plastic
loops, strings and bands that can entangle them, wound them or
prevent them from swimming. Marine animals are also very susceptible
to ingesting all forms of plastic debris, in particular cigarette
filters.
** For more information on marine pollution see the relevant section in the
Ask A Scientist Answer File under General Questions on the OceanLink website.
O -
Over-consumption:
Humans use a wide variety of marine organisms for food, medicines,
raw materials, pets and curios. Although in theory any marine organism
could be exploited at a sustainable rate, increasing demands, advancing
technologies and decreasing cultural inhibition means that over-exploitation
is becoming the norm. Over-consumption not only reduces the exploited
population, but can also cause genetic changes within the population
and affects biological interactions within an ecosystem (ie. predators,
prey, competitors, and symbionts).
I hope this gives you a good
overview of the threats to marine biodiversity. Each of these
topics in and of themselves are very in depth and require much
more reading for complete understanding. Just by thinking about
the things that you and the people around you do in everyday
life and relating them back to the ocean, i think you will begin
to see how severely the human race has affected biodiversity
in some parts of the world.
As far as ongoing projects
dedicate to helping biodiversity in South East Asia, I only know
of a few. Coral Cay Conservation
based in Indonesia and the Philippines, is a project dedicated
to providing resources to help sustain livelihoods and alleviate
poverty through the protection, restoration and management of
coral reefs and tropical forests. Project Seahorse based in the Philippines and Vietnam, is a team of biologists
and social workers committed to conserving and managing seahorses,
their relatives and their habitats while respecting human needs.
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Protecting
Marine Biodiversity - Received from Stephanie Schramel
in Chadron, Nebraska
Q: I am doing a presentation on ocean pollution and the affects on marine animals.
I have been looking for pictures to convince my classmates to start recycling
or even just cut their pop rings. I would like to know where I could find a
baby seal with a pop ring around their neck, this may help my classmates understand
how important recycling is. We also have to do an action part of our presentation
so I would like to adopt a whale or something to that sort. We cant spend alot
of money so any help would be appreciated. I wish i would have seen this website
earlier because today is Sunday and our presentation is on Tuesday. If you
could help out in any way possible it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you,
Stephanie
A: To find a picture that
demonstrates the effects of plastic pollution my suggestions
are to search more on the web or simply draw one of your own.
As far as things you can do to help protect biodiversity from pollution, there
are many things that you and your class can do quite cheaply. Here are just
a few ideas:
- find out what species are at risk in your area and get involved in local
recovery efforts by volunteering with wildlife agencies, such as Sierra Club,
NAME, WC2 etc.
- organize a letter writing campaign to pressure federal, state and county
governments to develop stricter environmental laws
- develop a community data centre to keep track of local habitats and species
- identify potential problems for wildlife in your community, such as poor
waste disposal and oil spills. Urge local governments to eliminate these threats.
One hand written letter is often worth 10 000 people!!!
- promote the use of organic alternatives to chemicals
- become a guardian for endangered species. Volunteers in the Maritimes set
an excellent example by patrolling beaches to protect the Piping Plover habitat.
They also educate the public about this shorebird.
- build and maintain nesting and roosting boxes for birds in your area.
- take on wildlife habitat improvement projects in your own yard or community
- adopt a stream in your community. Remove debris from the water and shoreline.
-inform your family,friends, neighbours and co-workers about important wildlife
issues.
Here are a few suggestions
of things that you and your classmates can do in your everyday
lives to help protect biodiversity:
- Use less water! Stay in
the shower for less time, install water saving devices on showers
and toilets, turn off water when brushing your teeth or shaving.
- Use less paper! Print only when necessary, use the reverse side of paper,
make double-sided photocopies and reuse paper by making it into notepads.
- Use recycled paper.
- Use cloth napkins instead of paper.
- Try to avoid use of disposable dishes, cups and utensils.
- Take lunch to work or school in reusable containers.
- Separate your food waste and other organic materials from the rest of your
garbage, recycle and compost.
- Use public transportation, car pool, ride a bike, blade, board or walk.
- Buy a more fuel efficient car and service your engine regularly.
- Get the most efficient tire for your car as this improves fuel economy.
- Turn off lights in rooms not being used.
- Set up a recycling program at home, school, or work.
- Bank at small locally responsible institutions.
- Don;t buy tissue paper products that have been dyed. The dye contributes
toward water pollution.
- Buy returnable bottles and cans.
- Bring your own bags shopping, or use as few as possible. Reuse shopping bags
as garbage bags.
- Reduce packaging! Buy food and other products wrapped in the least amount
of packaging possible.
- Buy local! Shop at farmers' markets or co-ops that support local farms and
low-input agriculture. Insist on chemical free foods.
- Try not to buy food served on polystyrene plastic.
- If you must buy batteries, buy the nickel-cadmium rechargeable type. Don't
toss used batteries in the trash. Save them in a box on a shelf and bring them
to a disposal facility.
- Use a solar-dryer - clothes line - or use gas rather than electric dryer.
- Use baking soda and vinegar instead of bleach or other toxic household cleaners.
If you must use these cleaners, use them sparingly.
- When choosing souvenirs, make sure they are not from an endangered species.
Good Luck!!
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Copper
toxicity in the marine environment - received from CJ
in Los Angeles
Q: I am studying ocean pollution, and heard that metals like copper are dangerous
to fish and other animals. How is copper dangerous? Thank you!
A: First of all, you need
to understand that when we discuss metals, we need to clarify
what state the metal is in. For the most part, an element in
its natural, solid metal state in rocks is not a major concern.
Metals can also exist in ionic form, where the metal ions (Cu,Fe,Al,etc....)
are complexed with other ions to form ionic compounds. For example
copper (Cu2+) can unite with sulphate in seawater (SO4 2-)
to form copper sulfate (CuSO4).
This ion, along with many other metal ions, is soluble in seawater
and is extremely toxic to marine organisms. Metals can also form
complexes with inorganic and organic molecules in a process known
as chelation. Chelates usually consist of molecules with a ring
structure with the metal ligand in the center.
Soluble metals are naturally
occurring in the marine environment. Metals can enter the ocean
via weathering of rocks, leaching of soils and vegetation, and
volcanic activity. However, humans also contribute metals to
the ocean in a variety of ways. Mining and smelting of ores,
disposal of industrial waste, burning of fossil fuels and processing
of raw materials for manufacturing are all human sources of soluble
metals in the marine environment. Rainwater also carries significant
concentrations of cadmium, copper and zinc from the atmosphere
to the oceans.
Most plants and animals require
minute concentrations of metals to grow properly. The metals
are used by the organisms to produce enzymes and proteins that
perform critical metabolic functions (for example, chlorophyll
contains magnesium ligands while haemoglobin in blood contains
iron). In very small concentrations metals like copper, zinc,
iron, sodium, magnesium, and cobalt are considered essential
micronutrients and are required for the proper growth and development
of most plants. Therefore, in low concentrations, metals
actually act as nutrients for the tiny plant-like organisms
called phytoplankton that live in the ocean.
However, high concentrations of
metal ions or chelates can be toxic to a variety of organisms.
Plankton are especially susceptible to metal contamination. The
metals can interact with crucial enzymes, inhibiting their function.
Toxic effects on phytoplankton can include the following:
1) cessation of growth and
development
2) inhibition of photosynthesis
3) reduction in chlorophyll content
4) increased cell permeability and loss of potassium ions
Even though copper is an essential
micronutrient, it is the second most toxic metal next to mercury.
Copper is believed to interfere mainly with the function of cell
membranes. The metal is believed to interfere with the permeability
and binding of other essential metals. Once it has entered the
cell, Cu can bind to the thiol (-SH) groups of enzymes, disrupting
the conformation and function of these biomolecules. In addition,
copper may also exert its toxicity in organelles by interfering
with mitochondrial electron transport, respiration, ATP production
and photosynthesis in chloroplasts. Copper also has similar effects
on marine vertebrate and invertebrate species. Ingested and absorbed
metals interfere with the metabolic machinery of the cells of
these animals.
For more information on the
toxicity of metals in the marine environment, look for these
titles:
Anderson,
B.S. & J.W. Hunt. 1988. Bioassay methods of evaluating the
toxicity of heavy metals, biocides and sewage effluent using
microscopic stages of the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera (Agardh):
a preliminary report. Marine Environmental Research 26: 113-134.
Davies,
A.G. 1983. The effects of heavy metals upon natural marine phytoplankton
populations. Prog. Phylcol. Res. 2: 113-145.
Sorentino,C.
1979. The effects of heavy metals on phytoplankton - a review.
Phykos 18: 149-161.
Stauber,
J.L. & T.M. Florence. 1987. Mechanisms of toxicity of ionic
copper and copper complexes to algae. Marine Biology 94: 511-519.
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Water
Legislation - received from John in North Carolina
Q: Do you have any information
in favour of legislation to protect certain water ecosystems?
A. Internationally, the UN
convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III) is the current
authority on what constitutes sovereignty over the marine environment.
Most of UNCLOS III policies are now part of international law.
It recommends that management of coastal resources be shared
among all parties that have a stake in them.
Nationally and locally, legislation
varies widely around the world, and is often pretty complex.
You should contact local, provincial (state) and national authorities
in your area to determine what laws exist to protect freshwater
and marine ecosystems. Marine Parks (provincial/state and national)
are becoming more common in Canada and in the USA. Certain special
areas like estuaries are often protected by local authorities.
National laws often try to control the overall effects of pollution.
The combination of all of this complex legislation will hopefully
help to protect our water ecosystems.
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Definition
of pollution-
received from Charlotte in the UK.
Q: What is the definition
of pollution?
A: This is a great question!
We use the word "pollution" all the time, and the word carries certain
connotations, but most of us would have dificulty defining the term specifically.
My difinition of pollution is this: Pollution is the introduction by man, directly
or indirectly, of substances or energy into the environment to such a degree
that environmental conditions change.
Some definitions of pollution include the extraction of energy or substances
from the environment, if it is done to such a degree that environmental conditions
change. The point is that man causes it, and it results in a change in the
environment.
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Hole
in the Ozone -
received from Tony in Utah
Q: I was wondering
with this so called hole in the atmosphere - will that effect
marine life and the parts of salt per thousand?
A: The hole in the ozone layer may have some important effects on ocean life.
Ultraviolet light that is allowed to penetrate the earth's surface where the
ozone layer is missing has been shown to be detrimental to single-celled algae
of the plankton in the upper layer of ocean water. These plants are the primary
producers of the open ocean, meaning they supply the energy for all the higher
animals in the oceanic food web. They also supply a large component of the
earth's oxygen.
As far as I know, salinity levels in the sea are more likely to be affected
by global warming, which is thought to occur as a result of certain gasses
in the atmosphere that trap heat within it. As glaciers and ice caps melt,
ocean salinity is expected to decrease.
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Ocean
Dumping - received from a student in BC, Canada.
There is also a process that
is actually called "ocean dumping," and this is the
release of sediments in one area that were collected in an ocean
dredge. This process disturbs the environment at the ocean floors,
burying and killing many of the benthic organisms (organisms
living on the ocean floor). In a few months to a few years, the
benthic environment may be recolonized, but the species makeup
may be different than the original. If the dredged sediments
contain any of the above human effluents, then the process may
be quite harmful...
A good place to look for more information is in an oceanography textbook.
I got all of this information from 'Invitation to Oceanography' by Paul A.
Pinet, 1998.
Q: What are three or four
very destructive effects of ocean dumping?
A:
If you mean general human-related dumping,
three big problems are sewage, heavy metal contamination, and artificial biocides.
Problems occur when the amount of effluent is too high to be diluted.
Sewage generally contains large amounts
of nitrogen and phosphates, which can lead to phytoplankton blooms. As the
plankton dies and decays, oxygen is taken up from the water. The loss of oxygen
as a result of increased nutrient is called eutrophication.
Heavy metals in the water are dangerous
when they have a chance to built up inside organisms. Organisms tend not to
get rid of the metals within them, so it accumulates over the coarse of their
life (called bioaccumulation). When one organism eats many organisms which
each contain some heavy metals, the metals accumulate even faster within it
(called biomagnification). If there is enough contamination with an organism,
it can get very sick and may die.
Artificial biocides also undergo biomagnification
among marine organisms. The pesticide, DDT, has long been banned from use in
North America but is still being used globally. Biomagnification of this artificial
chemical leads to death of organisms. Another example of the impact of artificial
biocides is the accumulation of PCBs (chemicals used in manufacturing) among
marine organisms.
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Global
Warming - received
from Avneet in Punjab
Q: Please tell me about Global
warming...
A: Global warming is a theory
that suggests the planet's temperature is slowing increasing.
When heat from the sun enters the earth's atmosphere, the gases
there trap some of the heat. This process, called the "Greenhouse
Effect," is what allows life to exist on earth. Otherwise
it would be just too cold. However, scientists are suggesting
that human activity such as car emissions and air pollution has
altered the chemical composition of the atmosphere. Levels of
carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide – heat trappoing
gasses – are increasing. As a result, more and more heat
is being trapped in the earth's environment. Temperatures are
reported to have increased 1-2 degrees celcius in the last century.
The consequences of this include: droughts, rising sea levels,
and shifts in global weather patterns. For lots of great info
on global warming check out the EPA's site:
also, check out the latest edition of Ocean News: dedictated to Climate Change
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Thermal
Pollution - received
from Helen in Malaysia
Q: Hi! I wonder if you could
let me know about thermal pollution espeacially the effect of
the thermal pollution on our ocean and health? Thanks!!
A: Thermal pollution affects
the ocean in a negative way. Increases in water temperature causes
a change (lowering) of dissolved oxygen levels. This disrupts
the body of water's ecological balance, resulting in the suffocation
of some plant and animal species while encouraging the overgrowth
of others. The overgrowth and suffocation causes a cascade reaction
with other organisms that are dependant on the ones that don't
survive and with organisms that now have to compete with the
overgrowing organisms.
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Bioamplification -
received on from Jaime in Frisco, Texas
Q: What is biological amplification
and what effect might this have on top consumers?
A: Bioamplification is a phenomonen
where levels of toxic pollutants (such as heavy metals and PCB's)
increase as we move up the food chain. This can also be called
biomagnification. This happens because primary producers only
absorb small amounts of toxins. But, then herbivores eat many
primary producers, so they accumulate a higher concentration
of toxins. And then consumers that eat the affected herbivores
consumer even higher levels of toxins. Because top consumers
(like killer whales for example) are at the very top of the food
chain, they are consuming and accumulating the highest levels
of toxins. It has been suggested that in top predatory odontocete
whales, extremely high levels of toxins are present and possibly
having a deleterious effect on their immune and reproductive
capabilities. This especially problematic because these high
levels of toxins are generally passed to their offspring in utero.
For more info see this website: http://www.iet.msu.edu/toxconcepts/toxconcepts/bioaccum.htm
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Beach
clean-up - received
on from Ronen in Israel
Q: What are the advantages
and disadvantages (harmful impact) of beach cleanup by machinery?
A: Advantages of machine cleanup
of oilspills are that they get the job done quickly. Spills will
be gone and the beach can be looking great in a fewdays. Unfortunately,
a closer look will reveal that often most of the organisms on
the beach have been killed in the process. Pressure washing with
hot fresh water cooks invertebrates on the rocks and ruptures
their outer cells, usually killing them. Any mechanical devices
will not discriminate between organisms and oil, and therefore
crunch them to death. The ecological costs of cleanup are sometimes
greater than the spill itself! some people think that it's simply
best to let nature take its course, the oil will eventually break
down, evaporate or disperse.
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Delsalination
discharge - received
from Syed in Pakistan
Q: Tell me about the impact
of effluents from desalination plant on marine life.
A: There are several concerns
about the impact of desalination plants on the marine environment.
Various chemicals used to clean pipes and to pre-treat the water,
are later washed out in the effluent. One of the largest concerns
is the release of highly-concentrated salt water, sometimes into
estuaries and rivers, where the salt content is obviously much
lower than in the open ocean.
Estuaries are important breeding and juvenile devolpment habitats for many
species, because of their calm waters. Eggs, larvae and juveniles are usually
far less tolerant to environmental changes than their adult counterparts, so
changes in estuary oceanography could have a large impact of brood stock of
various fish and invertebrate species.
Check out this website from the California Coastal Commission, for some information about potential marine concerns,
and ways of dealing with them for American desalination plants.
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Causes
and Effects of Toxic Pollution
Q:What are the Causes and
Effects of Marine Toxic Pollution?
A: There are many different
types of toxic waste pollution and many of them cause various
problems to marine life. Mercury poisoning is from industry
and accumlates in the animals at the top of the food chain.
It can cause potential birth defects and nervous system damage.
Dioxins come from the paper bleaching process and some herbicides
and cause chromosonal aberations in marine life. PCB's (Polychlorinated
Biphenyls) and PAH's (Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons) cause
birth defects, reproductive problems and chromosonal problems
as well. PCB's come from older electrical equipment (electrical
transformers) and hydraulic fluid while PAH's come from oil
spills, road runoff and burning wood and coal. Radiation is
another major toxic pollution source in the ocean but it is
less well understood. Its effects are likely to be similar
to those on humans but not enough is understood to make more
than very general statements.
The developed world is cleaning up their pollution problems but the underdeveloped
world has very little pollution controls in place.
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Eutrophication
Q: What exactly is Euthrophication?
Is is different for aquatic and marine eco-systems?
A: Eutrophication is a process
where the nutrient levels are very high for the volume of water.
Basically the nutrient levels are high enough to cause massive
algal blooms for an aquatic (freshwater) environment. Eutrophication
can be a normal process of the environment but humans can also
help it along by releasing such things as detergents, sewage,
phosphourous and industrial wastes. In a lake environment with
a high level of eutrophication the levels of dissolved oxygen
will be lower at the deeper parts of the lake. This environment
does not support normal trout development but can support species
such as carp (in extreme cases) and bass.
In marine environments eutrophication can be different. Often the problem in
a marine environment will be nitrogen loading. This can come from such things
as oceanic sewage disposal, swine (pig) farming and other types of livestock
farming. Oftentimes this can result in oceanic algal blooms that cna harm fish
stocks and so forth. Oceanic eutrophication can be dangerous as well. One species
of dinoflaggellate (Pfiesteria piscicida--also called the cell from hell) will
be drawn to areas of high nutrient loading. In these high nutrient areas the
pfiesteria will attack fish and cause to become paralyzed and then develop
open sores. After the fish develop the open sores the pfiesteria eat them and
they die soon after. I found a web-address that addresses the cell from hell
problem very well. Pfiesteria.org.
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Aquaculture
Pollution
Q: What are the effects on marine life
around an aquaculture pen?
A: Basically the ground underneath
the salmon aquaculture pens is dead of almost all organisms from
pollution. Not a lot of information is really known about the
overall effects of aquaculture and whether the ocean can flush
most of the pollution out. The best bet to monitor the effects
of aquaculture pollution would be to test the aquaculture site
and compare it to a series of other sites ranging out from the
pens. Perhaps in time scientists can understand the full impact
of pollution from aquaculture.
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Disposing
of Dried Marine Paints
Q: What
are some ways in disposing of used marine paints?
A: Proper disposal of paints is very
important because paint can cause damage to the environment if
disposed of improperly. Your best bet to dispose of marine paint
would be to take it to a paint disposal facility if your community
has one.
However if the dried paint is latex based you may be able to dispose of it
in a landfill. Beyond that there are not very many options available. Just
a reminder that liquid paint cannot be disposed of in the trash or down the
drain as it will kill most animals and poison drinking water.
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Chemical
vs Biological Cleanup
A: Both cleanup methods that
you have listed have their ups and downs. Some of the chemical
compounds can harm animals not killed by the oil pollution. However
the chemical methods remain one of the best ways for cleanup
in the open ocean where other methods are not practical. Other
methods include absorbents (typically these just absorb the oil
and do little or no damage to the environment), oil booms which
trap the oil in a confined space and oil skimmers which skim
the oil from the surface.
Oil booms and skimmers may be the best method as they do not harm the environment.
The booms just trap the oil within the boom and the skimmers suck the oil out
of the water.
Biologial cleanup on ocean shores presents a catch22 problem for cleanup. Using
methods such as high pressure hot water hoses typically will kill any animals
that survived on the beaches. Sometimes its almost better in cases of small
beach spills to leave the oil on the beach and let it break down naturally.
However there is no perfect way to clean up an oil spill so sometimes we have
to choose a method that does the least harm.
OceanLink's oil pollution webpage should give you some further ideas on oil spill cleanup.
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Beach
Cleanup
Q: I am giving a speech to
cleanup the beach here after a fireworks show. I want to know
the toxic effects of the fireworks on the beach and how to clean
them up.
A: From what I have found
fireworks are not considered a major threat to the beaches and
oceans. There may be an impact especially from ash-fallout from
the fireworks displays. From the research I did some fireworks
have substances that give the fireworks their color patterns.
However there was no listing as to how these different chemicals
affect any marine animals.
In the case of ash-fallout on a beach its likely best to just leave the beach
alone and let natural events clean the beach. Sometimes physically cleaning
a beach with high pressure hoses or raking and so forth will do more damage
than just leaving it be. In the case of ash fallout it may be possible for
wave/tide action or rainfall to clean the beach for you. If fireworks were
launched from the beach itself make sure all the canisters were cleaned up
and properly disposed of. Also make sure to clean the beach of accumulated
trash from the show. Marine garbage can be seriously harmful to species such
as seals and birds from accidentally eating it or getting it wrapped around
their bodies.
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