~1~ Types of Pollution One type of pollution could be solid pollution. Solid pollution would be plastic bags, paper, any plastics, or anything that is a solid could pollute the ocean. Solid pollution could mostly be caused by what’s left from destroyed buildings or debris from a tornado or hurricane. Pollution could even be oil left by ships. Another type of pollution could be noise pollution. Noise pollution is sound waves carried for miles in large bodies of water. The increased presence of loud or persistent sounds from ships, sonar devices, oil rigs, and even from natural sounds ~2~ like earthquakes can disrupt the migration, communication, hunting, and reproduction patterns of many marine animals, particularly aquatic mammals such as dolphins and whales. Causes of Marine Pollution Some causes of pollution are the noise of barges and submarines. The submarine’s sonar interferes with the sonar tracking for dolphins and whales. Barge’s sound waves travel through the ocean undiminished for miles. Another type of cause could be the waste and solids we throw away. The trash that could be ~3~ recycled ends up in the ocean while the little marine organisms eat the trash. Once they eat the trash the bigger marine life consume the organisms making the trash go up in the food chain as the wildlife eat the animals the first consumed the garbage. The wildlife sometimes even consume the trash directly mistaking it for food. Oil spills also cause marine pollution. The oil is spread by boats and ships that pass by. The oil is consumed sometimes by sea turtles and fish because they think its food. When the oil spreads it kills the marine life that are supposed to clean it up leaving the oil as a problem to the fish and marine life because it’s no longer clean. Cargo ships and ~4~ tankers discharge it either deliberately or accidentally. Poisonous materials like PBC, mercury, PAHs and dioxins along with other radioactive wastes cause enormous pollution. The affects on people and animals One affect is on the fish that swim in the water. Since the water isn’t clean the fish and marine life breathe in the contaminated water. The fish, sharks, and turtles are forced to move to different places because their food is dying in the polluted water. Another affect is on the food we and animals eat. The trash is often mistaken for food. Such as plastic bags, the sea turtle mistake that for sea ~5~ weed and try to eat it but the get caught and suffocate. The seafood we eat my also soon affect us because some of it may have little bits of oil on them or in them. Marine pollution also affects animal behavior. The pollution from noises affect the migration pattern of whales. Solutions One solution would be cleaning the oceans and the shores. Someone one could simply pick up trash along the shorelines or organize a group and help clean the ocean. You could even encourage people to clean the oceans by making posters, telling ~6~ people about pollution and its affects on people and animals. Another solution is recycling. If we recycle the trash then it won’t end up in the ocean. The solid item we need to recycle are plastic bags. Recycling by itself can’t solve marine pollution. Reusing plastic bags, jars, and paper. ~7~ Introduction Oceans have suffered at the hands of mankind for millennia. Common manmade pollutants that reach the chemical ocean include fertilizers, pesticides, detergents, herbicides, oils, sewage, plastics, and other solids. Many pollutants collect at the depths of the ocean and is consumed by small marine organisms. Solid waste like bags, foam, and other items dumped into the ocean are frequently consumed by marine mammals, fish, birds, and sea turtles that mistake it for food.