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Oceans are being Contaminated by Pollutants from Industry |
The Problem: Oceans are being contaminated by pollutants from industrial and agricultural activities as well as from various urban and household wastes. This pollution leads to a decline in the quality of coastal waters and the harming or killing of marine life.
The Cause: Pollutants enter coastal waters from the land through water runoff or dumping, or from air pollution. Agricultural fertilizers, sewage, urban runoff and other land-based sources contribute to nearly half of all marine pollution. Up to 20,000 outfall pipes in the United States dump raw sewage into coastal waters. An additional third of marine pollution is from atmospheric pollutants, such as metals and slowly degrading chemicals from farms, automobiles and factories. These toxic materials settle into sea-floor sediments, and eventually long-lasting chemicals may enter the food web and contaminate the fish and shellfish we eat. Oil spilled during tanker loading and unloading, washed off roads by the rain, and spilled during shipping accidents seriously affect marine life. Floating debris chokes and entangles marine life, as well as litters beaches.
You Can Help: Conserve water, use low-phosphate, phosphate-free, or biodegradable detergents and soaps, dispose of hazardous materials properly, reduce fossil fuel use, participate in beach clean-ups, and make sure that solid waste goes into an appropriate landfill.
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