Addressing Waste and Contamination
Pollutants: Plastic Waste, Oil Spills, and Radioactive Materials
Plastic Waste
- Plastic pollution is one of the most visible and persistent threats to marine ecosystems.
Microplastics(tiny plastic particles) are especially harmful, as they are ingested by marine organisms, entering the food chain and potentially harming human health.
Example- The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a massive accumulation of plastic debris, estimated to cover an area twice the size of Texas.
- It is located in the Northern Pacific.
Oil Spills
- Oil spills devastate marine and coastal ecosystems, coating wildlife in toxic substances and disrupting habitats.
- The BP Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010 released nearly 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, affecting over 160 km of coastline and damaging ecosystems like oyster beds and shrimp farms.
- It was the largest accidental oil spill in human history.
Radioactive Materials
- Radioactive waste from nuclear power plants, medical research, and industrial activities poses long-term risks to marine environments.
- The 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster released radioactive materials into the Pacific Ocean, which were carried across the northern Pacific by ocean currents.
- This disaster, alongside with Chernobyl, are the only two major accidents (Level 7) according to he International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale.
A common misconception is that radioactive waste quickly dissipates in the ocean. In reality, it can remain hazardous for decades, affecting marine life and human populations.
Strategies to Address Waste and Contamination
Local Efforts
- Beach Clean-Ups: Community-driven initiatives remove plastic waste from coastlines, preventing it from entering the ocean.
