How is ocean pollution affecting humans?
This article is also available here in Spanish.

How is ocean pollution affecting humans?

My list

Author | M. Martínez Euklidiadas

Ocean pollution has increased in recent decades. Industrial waste, runoff from farms and coastal towns are responsible for some of the major impacts together with solid waste (bags, cans), acidification or increased amounts of CO2.

How does ocean acidification affect us?

Oceans absorb around one third of the carbon dioxide emissions resulting from human activities, as well as 80% of the heat generated by these activities and other greenhouse gas emissions. This is leading to ocean acidification. One of the most serious consequences of the high presence of CO2 is that it reduces CO32-, which prevents corals and other essential animals from growing.

Coral reefs have been in regression for decades, with more than 50% of global coral reef systems expected to disappear by 2030, and 90% by 2050 In 2012, the Great Barrier Reef was already in very poor condition. Around 25% or more of the ocean’s biodiversity depends on the coral reefs, therefore, if they are lost, it will have a significant impact on people.

Microplastics in food

ocean pollution 44

One of the much-talked-about aspects is plastic pollution in oceans. It is now a well-known fact that most plastics are almost indestructible. Instead, they split and fragment, releasing methane during the process. This is a potent greenhouse gas. Although, unfortunately, the most immediate effect of microplastics is that they are appearing in food.

A report by the University of Newcastle (Australia) for WWF confirmed that in 2019 we ingested an average of five grams of microplastics each week. Most of this is from the fishing activity. Although we are not sure of the long-term effects, the intestinal lesions they cause in marine life make it clear that they are not good.

Far from being caused by the usual suspects (PET bottles and plastic bags), the truth is that most microplastics are from industry, synthetic clothing and detergents with dissolved microplastics.

Cities and ocean pollution

More than 10% of the world’s population now resides in coastal areas situated at less than 10 meters above sea level. Rising sea levels due to global warming is most certainly a problem for these people. Rapid coastal development is strengthening this cycle with major polluting waste effluents.

As millions of people settle in coastal cities each year, the flow of urban waste into the sea and oceans increases. Areas such as the Mediterranean have become improvised dumping grounds, and towns that depend on the ocean’s resources are affected by their lack of planning.

Human activities inland also contribute to the pollution of these bodies of water. The use of fertilizers rich in nitrogen in farming or pollution due to liquid manure alter the growth of some algae next to estuaries, bays and deltas, consuming the water’s oxygen.

Given that other aquatic species are incapable of surviving in this environment, the affected areas rapidly lose biodiversity. These are known as dead marine zones, and unfortunately they are on the rise. Fishing is not possible in these and fishermen have to travel greater distances, causing further pollution, in order to obtain the same amount of fish.

Images | iStock/solarseven, iStock/Svetlozar Hristov

Related content

Recommended profiles for you

WD
WILLIAM DAVILA
DAWA CO. LTD.
AUTOMATIZACION Y CONTROL
MA
Marta Arrufí i Franch
Agència de l'Habitatge de Catalunya
Head of Sustainability and RDI in Buildings
ÁB
Ángel Emilio Bonilla Fernández
INSTITUTO TECNOLÓGICO SUPERIOR DE HUICHAPAN
Teaching
AD
ANDREA DUAILIBE
Universidade Estadual do Maranhão UEMA
HOUSING AND INNOVATION LABORATORY - LABHAB+INOVAÇÃO UEMA - COORDINATOR
RB
Rotem Bar-Or
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Assistant Professor
BB
Ben Bloomfield
CIN
Director
RW
Richard Woodling
Ordnance Survey
Managing Consultant
NG
Noelia Guzman
CONSULTRANS SAU
MM
Monica Martinez
Generalitat
Press office
JS
Joan Manel Serra
Univeristy of Essex/ Bocconi University
CA
Canay Atalay
The Heroines
JP
Javier Pineda
So Lighting S.à.r.l.
AH
Adriana Hernández
MUTUO
Connecting startups
RD
Roberto Dumerauf
Atlas Group S.A.
Innovation Director
JH
Jana Helder
Form Follows You
DB
Danny Bronz
Shikun & Binui
CB
carina batista
student
KD
Kağan Demirdöven
Med İdea
CIO
DF
Daniele Frog
Enel
Business development manager
ED
Eryn Doran
Google Fiber