DEFINITION

In 1971 the UN defined marine water pollution as “ the introduction by man

Directly or indirectly of substances or energy into the marine environment
resulting in such deleterious effects as harm to living resources, hazards to
Human health etc.”
About 80% of the marine pollution enters the seas from land
HISTORY
In the 20th century most scientists believed that the oceans were so vast
that they had unlimited ability to dilute thus render pollution harmless
In the 1950s and 60s after several controversies about dumping radioactive
Waste off the coast of the US jacques cousteau became a worldwide figure
in the campaign to stop marine pollution

jacques
cousteau
TYPES OF POLLUTION
ACIDIFICATION
The oceans are normally a natural carbon sink absorbing carbon di oxide
from the atmosphere. Because the levels of atmospheric carbon di oxide
is increasing the oceans are becoming more and more acidic due to this
the coral reefs around the world

a depiction showing the cycle

of acidification 
TYPES OF POLLUTION
EUTROPHIOCATION
It is the increase in chemical nutrients in the ecosystem. It can result in
an increase in the ecosystems primary productivity (excessive plant
growth)
The biggest culprit are rivers that empty into the oceans and with it the
many chemicals used as fertilizers. An excess of oxygen-depleting
chemicals in the water can lead to the creation of a dead zone

A depiction showing the cycle of

Eutrophication
TYPES OF POLLUTION
PLASTIC DEBRIS
Marine debris is mainly discarded human rubbish which floats on or is
Suspended in the ocean. 80% of marine debris is plastic- a component that
has been rapidly accumulating since the end of world war 2. the mass of
plastic in the ocean may be as high as 100,000,000 tonnes.

the remains of an albatross

Containing ingested flotsam
TYPES OF POLLUTION
TOXINS
Apart from plastics there are problems with other toxins that do not
Disintegrate rapidly in a marine environment examples of toxins are PCBs
DDTs etc. specific incidents of this type of pollution :-
Chinese and russians dumping phenols and heavy metals in the amur river

PCBs used in electronic circuits

PREVENTIVE MEASURES AND EFFECTS
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
Use less plastic:- use fewer plastic products
Organise a beach clean up:- beach clean ups are an immense help in
Reducing marine water pollution
Reduce your rubbish
EFFECTS
Over 1 million sea birds and 100,000 sea mammals
are killed each year due to marine water pollution.
Heavy metals are extremely harmful to humans
The worst example of this is heavy metal poisoning
At the minamata bay in japan in 1938.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Marine pollution – wikipedia
Google images
Ocean sevice.noaa
Planetaid.org