Pollution of the OceanPresentation Created by:

Harlee Morphis

Alena Johnston

Stephanie Rogers

Nicholas Dixon

Edited by:

Ayat Al-Sabban

Table of ContentsIntroductionWhy is This Important?Types of Pollution:

Oil SpillsLand RunoffMarine DebrisNoisePlastic

How Can We Fix This?

Why Are Our Oceans Important?Release of certain chemicals help invasive plants grow in

abundance These plants are not safe to eat The plants consume so much oxygen that fish cannot safely

live in these “dead zones” (Erikson, et al.).Animals can be harmed from pollutants deposited into the oceans

The more animals harmed, the more the natural ecosystems change, and the effects could be disastrous

Animals can die from pollutants “Tens of thousands of penguins die every year from oil

pollution that may occur when ships clean out their bilges,” says Gary Miller, a consultant that was used during the production of Happy Feet.

What About Us?The oceans serve as our natural oxygen tank

If we didn’t have the oceans, more carbon would fill the earth’s atmosphere,

making it harder, or impossible, to breathe.

The oceans are an important food source

Approximately 16% of the human population depends on seafood

(MarineBio Conservation Society).

The oceans are important to maintain a healthy economy (National Ocean Policy

Coalition)

1 out of 6 jobs is marine-related in the USA (NOPC).

Over 50% of Americans live within 50 miles of the ocean (NOPC).

The ocean business racks up over $700 billion dollars in the USA, in gross

product. That’s over 1/3 of our national income! (NOPC).

Types of Pollutants

Of course, there are various other pollutants that have been found in the ocean. Among them are: degradable wastes composed of organic materials that can disintegrate, like agricultural waste, food processing waste, chemical waste and oil spills, polluting fertilizers, dissipating

waste, like heat or acids, and conservative waste like metals or radioactive materials (MacInnes and Kahler).

In this presentation we will be focusing on:• Plastic

• Land Runoff• Marine Debris• Oil Spills

Plastic Pollution is defined as pollutants made of plastic that enter

the ocean. Possible entries are: landfill waste, beach litter, and fishing nets.

Marine litter is 60-80% plastic (Lytle).

Plastic can travel long distances and can cause death to animals who mistake plastic for food. Animals have been known to suffocate from plastic waste. Abnormal development of marine animals can occur when they are stuck in fishing nets. Plastic chemicals from agricultural waste enter the food chain, are eaten by zooplankton, and are then consumed by people and animals alike. Bisphenol A (BPA) plastic exposure damages reproductive system of the animals, may cause breast cancer in pregnant women, erectile dysfunction and reduced sexual function in men (Lytle).

- Alena Johnston

Turtle Caught in Plastic Ring. Digital image. LiberationBC.org. 1 Sept. 2012. Web.

Pollutants included in land runoff are:• fertilizers• Pesticides• motor oils• chemical cleaners• untreated or poorly treated

sewage• loose dirt that can occur from

sources like construction sites

(EPA.Gov).

- Stephanie Rogers

Land Runoff or nonpoint source

pollution is caused when rainwater or melted snow moves over and through the ground. As the water moves it picks up and carries pollutants to nearby lakes, streams, and rivers. The pollutants may then flow into the oceans (EPA.Gov).

Stormwater Pipe into Ocean. Digital image. Sbck.org. 1 Dec. 2012. Web.

Dead Fish. Digital image. 2.epa.gov. Web.

Marine DebrisMarine debris are any type of litter found in the ocean. Examples are, but not limited to: metals, fishing equipment, paper, plastic, wood, and other miscellaneous debris. Much harm can come to animals through marine debris: accidental ingestion, entanglement, or toxic harm from contact with these materials.

Harlee Morphis

All photos sourced from: Marine Debris Photo Collection. Digital image. Marinedebris.noaa.gov. 1 Apr. 2015. Web.

Deadly Oil Spills

“An oil spill is the accidental petroleum release into the environment. A marine oil spill may result in oil pollution over large areas and present serious environmental hazards.

The more harmful effect of this would be that all the animals and the rest of the marine life would be covered in this toxic chemical. This would be considered the short term effect. Long term effects would be decline in recreational use and an unbalanced food web.”

- Nicholas Dixon

Stewart, Robert. Oil Spill in Gulf of Mexico. Digital image. Oceanworld.tamu.edu. 4 July 2010. Web.

Duck Covered in Oil. Digital image. Kelonia.se. Web.

Oil in a Wave. Digital image. App.emaze.com.

Web.

What Can We Do to Help?Preventing Oil Pollution:• Mandatory Equipment

Inspections• Regulate Upgrades to

Equipment

Preventing Runoff Pollution:• Use Fertilizers Less• Clean up After Pets• Properly Dispose of Waste• Maintain Marine Vehicles Properly

Preventing Plastic Pollution:• Use Less, Reuse, Recycle!• More Recycling Facilities• Invest in Education• Voluntary Coastal Clean-Ups

Preventing Marine Debris:• Recycle• Voluntary Land and Coastal

Cleanups

To Conclude . . . As pollution continues to cast its net of harm, it is more

important than ever before to take our oceans health seriously.

There are many types of pollution, the main types being: plastic, land runoff, marine debris, and oil spills.

These problems can easily be avoided by taking the solutions that have been suggested.

Everyone plays a part in the world, make sure your part is leaving the world a better, cleaner place, so that our

children can live in a safe environment for generations to come.

Credits Creators of Content and Leaders:

Alena Johnston

Stephanie Rogers

Nicholas Dixon

Harlee Morphis

Ayat Al-Sabban

Edited by: Ayat Al-Sabban

SourcesEriksen M, Lebreton LCM, Carson HS, Thiel M, Moore CJ, et al. (2014) Plastic Pollution

In the World’s Oceans: More than 5 Trillion Plastic Pieces Weighing over 250,000 Tons Afloat at Sea. PLoS ONE 9(12): e111913. Doi:10.1371/journal.phone.0111913

MarineBio Conservation Society. Ocean Resources – MarineBio.Org. 2015. MarineBio

Conservation Society. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.

"Oceans Impact the Economy." Oceans Impact the Economy. National Ocean Policy Coalition. Web. 27 Apr. 2015.MacInnes, David F., Jr., and Karen N. Kahler. “Ocean Pollution.” Salem Press

Encyclopedia (2015): Research Starters. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.Lytle, Claire Le Guern. "Plastic Pollution." Plastic Pollution. Coastal Care. Web. 27 Apr. 2015.“Coastal Watershed Factsheets – Oceans and Coastal Protection: Your Coastal Watershed.” Water: Oceans, Coasts, Estuaries, and Beaches. EPA.Gov. 2 Oct. 2012. Web. 22 April 2015.