More than 65% percent of the Earth surface is covered by oceans. In the course of time, it has been assumed by scientists and other experts that no matter what we throw away in them, they will not be negatively affected on a considerable scale. However, not that long ago, the specialists came to the conclusion that their colleagues from the past were wrong. Nowadays huge oceanic areas are full of chemicals and detrimental organisms which have negatively affected large zones. The marine life is placed at risk of being poisoned or extinguished.
Different Forms of Water Pollution
As it was already said, for centuries, people have assumed that the oceans are a safe, self-healing place in which they can heedlessly throw away their waste. However, now we produce more than ever before and respectively, we generate more waste than ever before. This has led to the immense speeding up of the degradation of the shoreline zones.
The fertilizers, pesticides and the herbicides we use to promote the growth of the crops and to protect it from pests and unfavorable conditions are more often than not washed away after rains and find their way to the oceanic areas. Oils, detergents we use on a daily basis and other solid particles are also present there. Unfortunately, the marine species consume them all and introduce them in the food chain thus directly placing us at risk of diseases. When eating the otherwise healthy fish, we also swallow all the dangerous substances that it has consumed before being caught.
One of the fertilizers main components is the Nitrogen. It is a primary nutrient presenting in all living cells which fosters the plant growth. If it is in quantities more than huge, it triggers the so-called blooms of algae. This particular type of vegetation demands vast amounts of oxygen and thus deprives of it the other creatures who need it. The aquatic animals start suffering from diseases or even die. These blooms are responsible for more than 400 dead zones worldwide.
The solids which are thrown away from land or ships are often mistaken by the animals for food. It is needless to mention the lethal effects of this. Fishing gears which are no longer in use are often left to float instead of being collected and wisely disposed at the respective places. Sometimes animals entrap in them and either die of their wounds or of starvation.