Reducing Ocean Pollution Through Policy and Clean Up technology
Ocean pollution has spread into a vast and continuously worsening problem that affects human health, human communities, marine life, and the marine ecosystems that sustain life. Waste enters waterways in a variety of ways. The ways it is introduced to the waterways include industrial facilities disposing of waste, trash being improperly discarded, and vessels leaking oil and other contaminants directly into the ocean. From local volunteers to the highest levels of government, there are attempts to fix the problem of ocean pollution and floating debris. However, ocean pollution must be addressed by spreading awareness of the devastation it causes, discussing the current policies in place to prevent further damage, and evaluating the technologies currently being implemented to mitigate the problem and help develop the most effective path forward.
The current condition of the ocean is not discussed widely enough, and the problem is much larger than is commonly understood. There are large garbage patches throughout the world's oceans. These are formed by strong ocean currents called gyres that pull trash and debris into centralized locations, with their shapes and sizes changing depending on the specific currents and wind at that time. These garbage patches contain debris ranging from small plastic pieces to extremely large, discarded fishing equipment such as nets and boat parts, and the debris can be found from the ocean floor to the surface ("Ocean Pollution and Marine Debris").
Plastics and discarded fishing gear are not the only forms of pollution that plague the ocean. Oil and other contaminants are also damaging the health of the ocean. A major factor contributing to this problem is the oil industry. "More than 7 million tons of oil have been released into the ocean from over 140 large spills" (Zhou et al.). This level of oil is only required because of the continued need by the human population which results in an increased risk of pollution during drilling, and industrial use. Oil spills and leaking chemicals are only one part of the contaminants the ocean must deal with. Agricultural runoff, pharmaceutical chemicals, industrial waste, and many other pollutants make their way into the ocean (Landrigan et al.). With modern society and advancements in technology, the amount of chemical waste continues to increase over time and when these pollutants are improperly discarded or carried by waterways into the ocean, they can remain for long periods of time and harm marine life and the surrounding ecosystems.
Marine life and the ecosystems they live in are among the first to suffer from contamination and floating debris in the ocean. Many petroleum-based pollutants that enter marine environments can reduce photosynthesis in marine plants and microorganisms (Landrigan et al.). Because photosynthesis is the foundation of many marine food chains and contributes to oxygen production, reducing this process can have detrimental effects throughout the marine ecosystem. Floating debris also causes a large amount of harm to marine animals. Many animals become trapped or tangled in discarded fishing gear, plastics, and other waste, while others mistake plastic for food and eat it. The ingestion of plastics wraps and microplastics can damage marine organisms, and the chemicals from the plastics can begin to collect in the tissue of the animals (Landrigan et al.). The effects of contaminants and plastic debris are not limited to the ocean. The effects of contaminated marine organisms and damaged ecosystems find their way to the human populations.
The human health effects of marine pollution often begin prior to birth. Developing children may be exposed to contaminants when their mothers consume polluted seafood. Prenatal exposure to certain marine pollutants has been connected to reduced IQ and other learning and developmental disorders (Landrigan et al.). These problems are not limited to unborn children or younger individuals. People of all ages can be affected by pollutants that enter the human body through contaminated marine life. The effects of pollutants in marine life "can disrupt endocrine signaling, reduce male fertility, damage the nervous system, and increase the risk of cancer "(Landrigan et al.). The dangers of ocean contamination are often overlooked because seafood caught in the wild may appear healthier or safer than processed foods. However, when approximately one-third of shellfish-growing waters are negatively affected by pollution, the problem is clearly widespread and threatens the safety of seafood consumed by people ("Ocean Pollution and Marine Debris").
The problems associated with ocean contamination are not being completely ignored, as governments around the world have established laws intended to prevent further damage. In the United States, several laws and regulations have been implemented to address water pollution and marine debris. One example is the Clean Water Act. The foundation of this law began with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948, but it was expanded in 1972 and then became known as the Clean Water Act, and it establishes water quality standards and regulates the disposal of pollutants into waterways ("Laws That Protect Beaches and Oceans"). A policy implemented that focused specifically on trash is the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act. This law established the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program to identify the sources of marine debris and support its assessment, prevention, reduction, and removal. Additionally, it also requires coordination with federal agencies, including the Coast Guard, as well as local governments, researchers, and volunteers to help reduce the problem ("Laws That Protect Beaches and Oceans"). In addition to the previously discussed laws there are also several other regulations that also address pollution in oceans and waterways in their own way. Despite all these policies and regulations, marine pollution and floating debris remain a problem that is still accelerating out of control.
The effectiveness of these policies is not always easy to understand. However, recent studies show that plastic bag bans and fees can reduce plastic bag litter along shorelines by approximately 25 to 47 percent (Papp and Oremus). This suggests that even a simple policy that makes disposable plastic bags more inconvenient or expensive can help reduce ocean pollution. Unfortunately, it can be rather difficult to determine whether the policy alone caused the reduction because other factors exist, such as public awareness, cleanup programs, and changes in cultural behavior. NOAA and other government agencies need to continue collecting data that measures the results of individual policies or actions. More detailed research would help pinpoint which regulations are creating meaningful changes and which policies need to be strengthened or revised in the future.
Policies may reduce the amount of pollution entering the ocean, but many technologies also are being developed and tested to address pollutants that are already present. One example of these technologies is the photocatalytic marine concrete structure, which is designed to help reduce oil contamination in marine environments. This material combines normal concrete with a photocatalyst that becomes active when exposed to sunlight. The photocatalytic reaction can break down certain petroleum based contaminants into less harmful molecules, reducing some of the negative effects on marine ecosystems (Zhou et al.). Although this technology is still in the early stages of testing, continued research could improve its effectiveness and practicality in combating oil pollution. Concrete is already commonly used in many marine structures. Photocatalytic concrete could provide a second purpose by providing structural support while also helping reduce oil contamination in the surrounding water.
Technologies designed to reduce floating marine debris are also being developed and tested. One example is an ocean surface cleaning system (OSCS) design was created for open sea debris cleanup operations. The system was designed to be strategically placed in locations where large amounts of floating debris are currently accumulating so that the waste can be captured and contained (Ji et al.). It was also developed to operate for long periods of time under severe ocean conditions. The system was designed for a service life of approximately 15 years and a daily debris collection capacity of up to 500 kilograms (Ji et al.). These accomplishments demonstrate the importance of creating cleanup technologies that are durable enough to operate in the ocean environment. With further testing and development, improvements to the system's effectiveness will allow similar technologies to make a greater contribution in reducing existing ocean debris.
With cleanup technologies continuing to improve, their current effectiveness must be compared with the cost of operating them. Both performance and cost are essential when deciding whether technology is practical for the large-scale ocean cleanup that is required to alleviate the problem. Current data found that dredgers and mobile skimmers provide some of the highest value when their effectiveness is compared with their cost (Brouwer et al.). This comparison is important because an expensive system may not be practical if a less expensive technology can provide a similar outcome. Understanding which methods provide the best results for their cost can help governments and organizations decide where to place funding and additional research efforts.
With an understanding of current cost-effective cleanup methods and newly developed technologies, a short-term plan to reduce ocean pollution and floating debris should move forward. Current projections show that as much as 53 million metric tons of plastic could enter marine ecosystems annually by 2030 if pollution is not greatly reduced (Borrelle et al.). To control the effects of this continued increase, divisive steps must be taken. First, ocean surface cleaning systems designs such as the OSCS discussed previously should be placed in strategic locations near ocean gyres. Dispatching these systems near garbage patches could begin reducing the floating debris that has already built up in those areas and prevent further growth of the garbage patches. Closer to the shore photocatalytic concrete structures could be installed near industrial facilities, runoff outlets and ports. These structures could also be placed near sensitive marine ecosystems to help reduce surrounding oil contamination before it causes additional damage.
Government agencies can also take direct short-term action to reduce ocean pollution. Highly expensive cleanup technologies could be put on hold until further research improves their effectiveness and lowers their costs. Meanwhile, funding should focus on cleanup methods that currently provide the greatest results such as the top skimmers and dredgers. Government agencies could also increase the number of inspections of industrial plants, oil facilities, and shipping vessels to identify violations or discrepancies before they cause greater damage to the ocean. Fines and other penalties for improper waste disposal and pollution mismanagement may also be increased and enforced more harshly to discourage companies from ignoring current environmental laws and regulations.
While short-term actions should be quick and decisive, long-term solutions must combine stronger environmental policy with the continued use of advanced pollution control technologies. More funding should be directed toward evaluating the effectiveness of current policies so that governments can collect quantifiable data showing whether certain policies are working or not meeting the standard. After the most effective policies are identified, additional support then should be allocated to improve technologies that have already shown positive results such as the OSCS design. However, no single country can solve this problem alone. Ocean pollution is a worldwide issue, and international agreements are necessary to allow cooperation amongst nations. Establishing shared goals and cooperating to accomplish those goals are vital in reducing the problem of ocean pollution.
A priority should also be to increase public education about the condition of ocean pollution and floating debris. Its negative effects on both marine life and human health should be taught more extensively in schools to create long-term cultural and behavioral changes. A higher level of public knowledge of the issue may cause individuals to think twice and reduce their impact on the environment. An additional action would require the use of photocatalytic concrete in all structures that come into contact with waterways or marine environments. Structures along waterways and oceans would serve an additional purpose by helping reduce pollutants in the surrounding water.
Ocean pollution is a devastating problem that has grown out of control and filled marine environments with trash, oil, chemicals, and other contaminants. Addressing this issue will require increased education, along with short-term and long-term data driven plans that combine effective environmental policies with the continued development and use of high-quality cleanup technologies. Ocean pollution is not only a policy problem or only a technology problem. Both must be used together to protect marine life and reduce harm to human health.
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