Chapter 5 - Water

Environmental Science - Holt, Rinhart and Winston, 2000

5.3 Ocean Pollution

5.3 Ocean Pollution

  • Most ocean pollution comes tom the land.  It is mainly garbage (especially plastic), sewage sludge, and oil.
  • the tree major sources of oil pollution in the ocean are small spills from tankers, leaks from offshore drilling rigs, and oil spilled whild loading and unloading oil tankers.
  • Plastic is considered a major ocean pollutant because it is lethal to many animals.  It comes from land and boats.  It can be stopped by passing new laws and enforcing exsisting laws and public awareness of the problem.
  • If ocean pollution continues at the current rate, ecosystems will be disturbed or destroyed, and possible extinction of some marine organisms.