Pollution images and facts - this gallery showcases the devastating impacts of pollution on our earth’s ecosystems. Education about the damaging effects of pollution is shared with the hope that it will bring positive change for future generations of our planet.
Pollution is defined as the introduction of foreign particles into an environment that results in direct change. Pollution can be a physical substance in the form of littering or plastic pollution, but it can also...
more »Pollution images and facts - this gallery showcases the devastating impacts of pollution on our earth’s ecosystems. Education about the damaging effects of pollution is shared with the hope that it will bring positive change for future generations of our planet.
Pollution is defined as the introduction of foreign particles into an environment that results in direct change. Pollution can be a physical substance in the form of littering or plastic pollution, but it can also take a chemical form as energy, noise, or light pollution. Regardless of its origin, pollution is damaging in all forms. Marine pollution can be particularly devastating to wildlife due to the vast size of oceans and the difficulty of cleaning pollution in water. Even land-locked areas can create ocean pollution through polluting rivers and streams that eventually find their way into the ocean.
Toxic pollutants in the ocean have considerable impacts on aquatic plants and animals. Heavy metal poisoning from elements such as lead and mercury, caused by industrialization, builds up in the tissues of top predators such as whales and sharks, causing birth defects and nervous system damage. Dioxins from pulp and paper mills, and poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's) from oil and coal production and burning wood also cause genetic disorders in marine animals. In addition, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s) from electrical equipment can cause birth defects in most marine organisms. Sewage can cause massive nutrient loading in the oceans, which leads to algal blooms, effectively decreasing the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water. Sewage also introduces parasites and bacteria to the water. Garbage has always been discarded into the ocean, but since the 1940s, plastic use has increased dramatically, resulting in a huge quantity of nearly indestructible, lightweight material floating in the oceans and eventually depositing on beaches worldwide. Marine garbage includes fishing nets, plastics, party balloons, beach toys, and general household garbage. Animals consume this garbage, leading to strangulation or blocks in their digestive system. Entanglement can also constrict growth and circulation, and particularly large debris often traps marine animals or slows their movement, making them more vulnerable to predators. All of these occurrences result in premature death for aquatic life.
Pollution can be reduced in a number of ways. Many communities implement beach cleaning days and recycling reduces the amount of trash that washes into the ocean. Individual awareness and care can also be taken to ensure that common household waste like car oil, laundry detergent, and other pollutants do not enter storm drains. To prevent silt from washing into rivers and streams, all landscaping should be protected until it is stable. One individual alone can make a difference, and groups efforts around the world can be effective in preventing oceanic pollution.
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