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Sea Pollution Article
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Causes Of Water Pollution: What Is To Blame
from:It is true that our Earth is covered with a large percentage of water, but the fact is that most of it has been contaminated with some form of water pollution. It is an unavoidable need to stop this path of destruction, in order to maintain life, as we know it on our planet. The causes of water pollution are many, but they can be brought under control.
Different Types Of Water Pollution
Water pollution is best defined as any change, biological, chemical, physical or otherwise in the quality of water. This change has harmful effects on any living organism that uses, lives in, or drinks the water. There are different types and causes of water pollution, including:
• Disease causing – These means, such as bacteria, parasitic worms, and viruses enter the sewage systems and untreated wastes. Illegal dumping of raw sewage is a main factor.
• Oxygen demanding – There are certain bacteria that require oxygen to decompose. An excess of these bacteria enter the water and deplete the oxygen levels during their decomposing process, thus robbing the needed oxygen for life of the organisms that make the water their home.
• Inorganic Pollutants – These water-soluble agents, like acids, salts, and toxic metals make the water unfit to drink and cause harm to the aquatic life.
• Phosphates and Nitrates – These are also water-soluble and cause excessive growth of algae and plants. The excess growth of these organisms deprives the oxygen levels.
• Organic Compounds – Oil, plastics, and pesticides are compounds that are unhealthy for all living organisms.
• Radioactive – These water-soluble compounds are a main cause of birth defects, cancers, and other genetic damages. Illegal dumping is the main reason for this.
How Does It All Happen?
Water pollutants are carried two different ways, effectively creating two fundamental causes of water pollution. There can be a "point source," which occurs when these harmful substances are entered directly. An example would be a pipe from an industrial facility dumps directly into a waterway. "Nonpoint sources" are when pollutants are delivered indirectly through environmental change. An example of this would be when fertilizers or pesticides are carried through runoff into the waterways.
Some of the point source and nonpoint source causes of water pollution are:
• Pesticides – Farming and local mosquito spraying enters the runoff in watering and rain
• Fertilizers – General use and commercial use
• Gas, oil, and additives – Accidental spills, runoff, and illegal dumping
• Mining – Strip mining will create major erosion and the chemical filled sediments enter the waterways
• Sediment – Poor construction methods also create erosion
• Industrial and chemical wastes – Illegal dumping and monitored dumping
• Plastics – Barges of trash dumped offshore are filled with plastics that reek havoc on organisms in the water and the waterfronts
• Household cleaners, personal products and pharmaceutical – The remainders that go down the drain enter our sewage systems, and the containers get dumped. Pharmaceutical and hospital wastes end up in our oceans and wash ashore
• Sewage – Illegal dumping of raw sewage occurs and poorly treated wastes reenter our waterways
• Air pollution – Particles from the air drop into the water adding to the nightmare
• Temperature – The use of water for cooling purposes in industry and then dumped back into the water before it has a chance to cool creates a variety of issues
Water pollution does not stem from one cause, nor is there one type. Whatever the form it takes, it affects all the living organisms that live in the water, drink the water, or are near the waterways. It is time to stop the act of waste, abuse, and misuse of our most precious resource, and minimize the impact of the causes of water pollution.
Sea Pollution Specific links
Sea Pollution News
New Zealand: Sea Pollution Disaster, Captain And Second Officer Of Rena Jailed ... - Sky News
 Sky News | New Zealand: Sea Pollution Disaster, Captain And Second Officer Of Rena Jailed ... Sky News The captain and second officer of a ship that caused New Zealand's biggest sea pollution disaster when it ploughed into an offshore reef have both been jailed for seven months. The Filipino officers were in charge of the Liberian-flagged Rena when it ... NZ Sea Pollution Disaster Captain Is Jailed Ship Captain, Navigator Jailed For New Zealand Oil Spill NZ cargo ship crash captain jailed |
Intelligent Robotic Fish Takes to the Sea - iProgrammer
 msnbc.com (blog) | Intelligent Robotic Fish Takes to the Sea iProgrammer A team of large, yellow robotic fish developed by SHOAL, a pan-European ICT project, to detect and stop pollution at sea, is undergoing trials in Spain. Gijon in the Bay of Biscay is the testing ground for five battery powered robots whose job is to ... Can Robo-Fish Rescue Polluted Water? Robotic 'fish' take to seas to catch pollution sooner Pollution-hunting robot fish take to the sea |
Robofish Detects Sea Pollution and Protects Real Marine Life, Is a Freaking Robot - PCWorld
 SlashGear | Robofish Detects Sea Pollution and Protects Real Marine Life, Is a Freaking Robot PCWorld Researchers from the EU-funded SHOAL project (put on by BMT Group) are busy testing robotic fish that can detect and identify polluted water in a matter of seconds. The project took three years to fully develop, from AI and design aspects to chemical ... Robot fish released to the sea to clear pollution Pollution-hunting robot fish take to the sea Water Pollution Monitoring Update |
Opinion: Canada's mass firing of ocean scientists brings 'silent summer' - Environmental Health News
 Environmental Health News | Opinion: Canada's mass firing of ocean scientists brings 'silent summer' Environmental Health News Among the scientists terminated are ones who have conducted landmark research about global pollutants for decades: Peter Ross, who is among the world's leading experts on marine mammals and contaminants, Gary Stern, a mercury expert whose work focuses ... Carolina Crazies, Real-Life Spongebob, Two Centuries of Fuel Hogs |
Heavy sea ice could mean slight delay in offshore Arctic drilling - Los Angeles Times
 New York Times | Heavy sea ice could mean slight delay in offshore Arctic drilling Los Angeles Times Unveiling the newly refurbished ice-class drilling rig that is poised to commence plumbing two exploratory wells this summer in the Beaufort Sea, Shell executives said the unusually robust sea ice would further narrow what already is a tight window for ... Arctic-sea oil exploration stands to open new frontier |