Ocean Pollution Essay Example

Have you ever thought about how much plastic you see whenever you take a walk on the beach? There are tons of plastic scattered on beaches all around the globe. For example, there are bottle caps and bags scattered on the beach. Chemical pollution is also a major issue. Chemical pollution is caused by human activities, such as the mass manufacturing of plastics. Although there are many causes of pollution, there are only a few solutions. Ocean pollution caused by plastic is resulting in danger to marine life but can be decreased by limiting the usage of disposable items. 

To begin with, ocean pollution has many causes. Two of these causes are plastic and chemical pollution. Ocean pollution is increasing by an absurd amount each year. According to the article, How to Reduce Plastic and Other Ocean Pollution Simultaneously by Liz Hollaway, “Each year thirteen tons of plastic get in the ocean each year and most items sink to the ocean floor.” A crazy quantity of plastic is being put into the ocean each year which is unsuitable. This proves that plastic is not being able to be recovered since it sinks to the bottom of the ocean floor where we cannot retrieve it. Furthermore, the article, Marine Pollution by National Geographic states that “Chemical pollution occurs when human activities, notably the use of fertilizer on farms, lead to the runoff of chemicals into waterways that ultimately flow into the ocean. The increased chemicals in the coastal ocean promote the growth of algal blooms which hurt wildlife.” This shows how chemical pollution is causing a rapid amount of algae. The algae that the chemicals are causing are hurting wildlife in severe ways. Plastic and Chemical pollution are the two major causes why we have ocean pollution. 

Moreover, there are many effects of ocean pollution. Two main effects are the hurting of wildlife and hurting humans. According to Oceans Plastic Pollutions by Biological Diversity, “Many of the marine animals mistake plastic for food and this needs to be stopped.” Marine animals are mistaking plastic for food which has caused them to choke and possibly die. Eating plastic also affects their digestive tract. Marine Pollution by National Geographic states that toxic chemicals are being exposed in our oceans which is affecting humans. If these toxic chemicals are exposed to humans for too long, it causes damage to human bodies sometimes causing brain damage. The effect of ocean pollution includes hurting wildlife and hurting humans which is very effective.

Lastly, there are a few ways to resolve issues on ocean pollution. One of these solutions is that numerous people can limit disposable items, recycle, and recover the plastic that was tossed away. The article Marine Pollution by National Geographic says that since 2018, over 60 countries have been limiting the usage of disposable items. This shows how countries are starting to recognize these issues and are trying to resolve them. If all countries start limiting the number of disposable items the ocean will be much cleaner not only for sea creatures but for humans too. On top of this, Liz Hollaway writes, “only 9% of all plastic ever discarded since 1950 has been recycled, while another 12% has been incinerated and the remaining 79% accumulated in landfills or the natural environment.” More than three-fourths of all plastic since 1950 is still in the ocean to this day. Although there are long ways to go to reduce all this plastic in oceans there has been lots of progress. There are few ways to resolve ocean pollution but society is coming up with new and effective ways to deal with this global issue. 

Ocean pollution caused by plastic is resulting in danger to marine life but can be reduced by limiting the usage of plastic items. The plastic you see on the beach is not the only pollution that is flooding oceans, there is also chemical pollution society has to worry about. Although there are large amounts of debris left, there are now better ways to get rid of this debris and chemicals in the ocean. All in all, this process will take some time, but there is hope for a clean, healthy, and safe ocean for our future.

Works Cited

Hollaway, Liz, et al. “How to Reduce Plastic and Other Ocean Pollution Simultaneously.” World Resources Institute, 26 May 2020, www.wri.org/insights/how-reduce-plastic-and-other-ocean-pollution-simultaneously.

National Geographic Society. “Marine Pollution.” National Geographic Society, 27 June 2019, www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/marine-pollution/.

Ocean Plastics Pollution, www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/ocean_plastics/.

“Tiny Pacific Island Has No Humans but Gets Much of World's Plastic Trash.” Newsela, newsela.com/read/trash-covered-island/id/30777/?collection_id=339.

Weilgart Lindy “The Impact of Ocean Noise Pollution on Fish and Invertebrates” Ocean and Dalhousie University, 1 May 2018, Accessed 31 January 2022 from https://www.oceancare.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/OceanNoise_FishInvertebrates_May2018.pdf.