Pollution effect on oceans
Rana Hodges
Marine Ecosystem
In a study released in the February 2008, journal Science researchers found that human activity from over-fishing to greenhouse gases and global warming are putting toxins in the enviroment. It has affected every square mile of oceans on the planet and strongly impacted roughly 40 percent of marine ecosystems. Marine mammals are suffering dramatic rises in devastating illnesses, such as nervous and digestive system problems, liver disease, endocrine system damage, and growth and development issues. Worse yet riak of cancer cases, scientist believe its being caused by contamination of the ocean with man-made toxic chemicals. Marine mammals are at the top of their food chain, the toxins in their food sources accumulates in their bodies, especially in their fatty tissues and breast milk. The most affected animals are Bottlenose dolphin, Orca, Risso’s dolphin, Harbor seal, Beluga, Mediterranean monk seal, common dolphin, Gray seal, Polar Bear and the Steller’s sea eagle.High toxin levels in its habitat have dropped the average life expectancy for a male orca more than in half and many more habitats and animals , it has caused many of their bodies to wash up to shore and devestate many.
The toxins that have quickly and quietly impacted the health of marine mammals, and maybe are in all of us. There is evidence that the oceans have suffered at the hands of mankind , their ecosystem has been affected cause of us. Pollution is the harmful contaminants that are outside the norm for a ecosystem. Common man-made pollutants that reach the ocean include pesticides, chemical fertilizers, detergents, oil, sewage and plastics.
Pollution is not always physical. In large bodies of water, sound waves can carry for miles increased presence of loud or persistent sounds from ships and sonar devices and even from natural sources like earthquakes. It can disrupt the migration, communication, hunting, and reproduction patterns of many marine animals, particularly aquatic mammals like whales and dolphins.Land runoff is another source of pollution in the ocean. This occurs when water infiltrates the soil to its maximum extent and the excess water from rain, flooding or melting flows over the land and into the oceans.
Chemicals used in industries and agriculture get washed into the rivers and from there are carried into the oceans. These chemicals do not get dissolved and sink at the bottom of the ocean. Small animals ingest these chemicals and are later eaten by large animals, which then affects the whole food chain. So we gotta start recycling before we start putting a decrease in our food supply and killing another ecosystem. Just watch where put leftover , bottles , and foods and smoke is putting toxins in the air , we gotta start being more mindful!!