How Does it Affect You?

What Causes Ocean Pollution

  1.    Land-based pollutants: Waste originating on land such as plastics and electronics account for 80 percent of all marine debris.

  2.    Toxic chemicals: Chemicals that have been implicated in cancer, developmental problems and other health issues end up in the ocean.

  3.    Energy consumption: The burning of coal, accounting for roughly 50 percent of U.S. energy use, releases toxic mercury that ends up in the ocean and the fish we eat.

  4.    Pharmaceuticals: The Associated Press reports that U.S. hospitals and long-term care facilities alone flush millions of pounds of pharmaceuticals annually down the drain.

  5.    Oil spills: An estimated 706 million gallons of oil are leaked from ships or wash from land into the ocean each year.

  6.    Carbon emissions: The oceans have absorbed about 50 percent of carbon dioxide from our carbon emissions, resulting in a 30 percent increase in ocean acidity since the Industrial Revolution.

Clean World

No matter where you’re going, just remember to give some thought to our good friend Mother Nature.  Ocean pollution, more than most of us realize, is a very large and very preventable problem.  Too much of the world fails to understand, fails to care about, or simply oversees the dangers of pollution and the small and simple things we can do to help alleviate or even diminish pollution’s effects.  One of the keys to alleviating the damage of ocean pollution isn’t necessarily keeping our beaches and the ocean itself clean, but keeping our entire world clean.

Even Better, you can attend an International Coastal Cleanup Day which  is an amazing event that removes literally tons of plastic from coastlines and waterways around the world every year.

What You Can Do to Reduce Ocean Pollution

Be informed and aware of your impact on the environment. Everything you do and use has some bearing on your surroundings. Making intelligent choices and changes in the manner of your everyday living is perhaps the most effective solution for ocean pollution.

• Reduse plastic bags and recycle plastics. Don't throw them away.

• Cut down on the use of toxic household cleaners.

• Don't throw trash when you visit the beach, or when you go anywhere else, for that matter.

• Make sure your vehicles and boats do not leak oil on the road or on the water. When it rains, this oil will of course be washed away and eventually, via streams, rivers or drains, find its way into the ocean.

• For the same reason, do not flush medications and chemicals down the drain.

• Cut down on the use of chemicals and fertilizers in your garden or on your farm.

• Volunteer and participate in environment clean-up drives.