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Lindsay Freund
Jennifer Bray
English 1302.480
May 2, 2011
Dead Zones
Algae are natural organisms that reside just about everywhere around the world.
However, due to unnatural hormones and chemically enhanced fertilizers, large algal
blooms are becoming larger and increasingly detrimental to our marine ecosystem in the
form of giant “dead zones.” Because of the destructive results of man-made pollutants,
our country now needs to act upon the issue of dead zones in order to stop the
degradation of our natural environment by making nitrogen-based fertilizers illegal.
A dead zone does not necessarily mean that the area is completely “dead,” rather
it is hypoxic. It is simply an “area of low-oxygen water that threatens marine life” (E.
Berger). The low oxygen levels in the water causes the marine life that inhibits the area to
have trouble breathing, which can eventually lead to suffocation. However, most of
aquatic life that unfortunately die are bottoms-feeders such as crabs, clams, and shrimp.
The larger fish have the ability to swim out of the hypoxic waters, yet the change in
natural habitat can have devastating effects as well.
The damaging process of dead zones begins with man-made products. The main
culprit for oxygen-depleted waters is nitrate rich fertilizer runoff. As one can imagine,
there is much more of this runoff than there was in the past. Because of technology and
scientific studies, nitrogen and phosphorus have been used in fertilizers in order to
produce abnormally abundant, and healthy crops. As the American population has grown,
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so has the demand for food. Throughout the years, bigger farms have used greater
amounts of fertilizer in the hopes of producing more crops, which eventually results in
revenue (Zabarenko). However, fertilizer runoff is not the only factor contributing to the
creation of dead zones. According to a reporter for The Washington Post, “smog from
vehicles” is a major pollutant feeding the disaster water. It was not until the 1900’s did
automobiles even exist, but now we have millions all over the world. The rise of the
automobile industry is a major reason for air pollution, which in turn created pollution of
the water (Achenbach). To add to this, “sewage plants, storm drains, development sites,
and auto exhaust are other [contributors] that rob oxygen from water and create dead
zones” (Harper). Even though agricultural runoff has the biggest impact, the lethal
combination of pollutants creates a devastating effect for our oceans’ water.
Despite the harmful chemicals, the damaging pollutants are not the direct cause
for the dead zones; they are only the beginning of the process of destruction. The
secondary part, the algae bloom, is the most direct cause. According to a study at
Stanford University, “fertilizer runoff from farms can trigger sudden explosions of
marine algae capable of disrupting ocean ecosystems and producing ‘dead zones’ in the
sea” (“Agriculture” 8). The sudden explosions present a domino effect as Erik Berger of
the Houston Chronicle explains; “These nutrients…spur the growth of algae blooms,
which after dying, sink to the bottom. There, the bacteria which feast upon the algae
bloom also bloom, depleting oxygen in the water” (E. Berger). Basically, the
overproduction of unnatural nutrients, or growth hormones, that are mainly stemming
from farmland runoff, have an over productive effect on both agricultural crops and other
organisms as well.
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Because of global pollution and farming, dead zones appear to be emerging in
waters worldwide. This issue falls close to home because the Gulf of Mexico contains an
enormous dead zone right at the mouth of the Mississippi River. “Scientists have
surveyed the Gulf dead zone for a quarter-century, and this year’s 7,722-square-mile area
of hypoxic water is among the five largest in the world” (E. Berger). The agricultural
runoff from the Mississippi River is the major cause for this and it is destructive to our
marine life and fisheries.
Not only is the marine life negatively affected by dead zones, but businesses and
people such as farmers, fisheries, restaurants, and citizens of the area will suffer harmful
consequences. Farmers will be greatly affected if they have to change their farming
techniques; this has the possibility of slowing down crop production, which in turn will
slow the amount of revenue earned. For example, the Missouri Corn Growers Association
(MCGA) is a grassroots organization that has come into play with the controversy of
dead zones because they believe that their fertilizers are not causing any environmental
problems. In a letter that they sent to the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Working Group, they
state that they thoroughly read over the scientific studies that had been conducted for the
cause of dead zones, and scientists are not certain that nitrogen is the major culprit. The
letter states that the scientists only theorize, but are not confident in their findings. If this
is indeed the case, then groups like the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Working Group are
hurting farming businesses only under suspicion. Many citizens like the MCGA would be
out of work due to false theories from scientists, which ends up being a lose-lose situation
for both the dead zone scientists and farming businesses (Taylor).
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Along with farmers, fishing businesses have the potential to be negatively
effected. Without any fish in the ocean to catch, fisheries will compete for what is left.
After that, many will be out of work. Not only does the loss of fish hurt the fisheries
financially, but coastal economies will also be strained because many prosper on seafood
restaurants. Likewise, according to John Roach of National Geographic, there will not be
any seafood left by the year 2048. He theorizes dead zones and other contributing factors
are causing fish to either die or swim off from their natural ecosystems, which will
eventually disrupt the way of natural marine life and that can conclude in death. Because
of this, the seafood restaurant businesses will find themselves closing down in the near
future (Roach).
Not only will businesses be hurt, but average people who own houses are being
affected as well. Maryland citizens are now paying a “flush tax,” a small sum of money
that comes out to about $2.50 a month per household (about $60 million a year), that goes
to the cleaning of the their water. The money is used to removing nitrogen from the
runoff in order to prevent the expansion of dead zones (“Editorial”). Even though the
amount paid seems to be very little, some citizens of the area are against the tax. Things
brings about controversy for the state of Maryland.
Nitrogen rich and petroleum-based fertilizers should be illegal because they cause
large algal blooms in the ocean, depriving the water of oxygen. The low oxygen water is
unable to inhibit marine life. Referring back to the study conducted at Stanford
University, "very large, unnatural blooms can overwhelm a marine ecosystem by
depleting oxygen in the water, causing larger organisms to die from hypoxia. These
abnormal blooms can even create oxygen-depleted dead zones where no living creatures
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can survive. Scientists have long suspected that many harmful algal blooms are created
by fertilizer runoff from farms, which carries excess nitrogen into rivers that eventually
flow into the sea" (“Agriculture” 8). On the other hand, it is argued that most of the
marine life still lives; the dead zones are only along the coast and the fish can swim out
further into the sea, which essentially means that the majority of fish do not lose their
lives. However, according to Simon Donner who worked on the study published the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, "the low levels of oxygen in the zone
make it difficult for crustaceans and bottom-feeding fish to survive. Fish will swim out of
the zone, potentially devastating local fisheries, he said" (Zabarenko). This not only
means that bottom-feeders are likely to die, but seafood businesses will suffer as fish
swim out of the region.
Continuous with businesses, another reason that organic farming should be
enforced is because the little amount of oxygen that causes loss of marine life will
eventually cause economic hardship for fisheries. To show the chain of events that leads
to this, as Achenbach says, "low oxygen, known as hypoxia, is in significant measure a
downstream effect of chemical fertilizers used in agriculture. [...] The nitrogen from the
fertilizer and the pollution feeds the growth of algae in coastal waters, particularly during
summer. The result is feast-then-famine: The algae eventually die and sink to the bottom,
where the organic matter decays in a process that robs the bottom waters of oxygen. The
ensuing die-off of marine life cuts down on the productivity of commercial fisheries"
(Achenbach). However, many feel that it is unpractical to farm organically because of the
smaller output, because we have to keep up with the food demands of the growing
population in America. Unlike conventional agricultural products, organic foods are
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produced without pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, artificial animal hormones, or
genetically modified seeds. The fact that organic foods are grown in more natural ways
than conventional crops endows them with several advantages. Switching from foods
produced through chemical-intensive agriculture to organic products has benefits for the
individual, the environment, and society in general (A. Berger).
A third reason that type of fertilizer should be enforced is because our society
may not be able to enjoy seafood in the future. "According to the study, the loss of ocean
biodiversity is accelerating, and 29 percent of the seafood species humans consume have
already crashed. If the long-term trend continues, in 30 years there will be little or no
seafood available for sustainable harvest" (Roach). Farmers disagree with the severity of
this theory because there are plenty of other foods for humans to eat other than seafood.
Even though this may be a true statement, many of our essential vitamins come from the
consumption of oceanic organisms. But what the farmers are not taking into
consideration is the degradation of more than just the aquatic life. There will be no more
clean water for swimming and recreation and wildlife viewing and ecotourism will come
to an end (Selkoe 38).
There are ways to achieve a solution and a more environmentally friendly
lifestyle. Anybody can do this by creating a compost pile in their own backyard and use
it’s nutrients to fertilize their crops in an environmentally friendly matter. Another option
for obtaining less fertilizer pollution would be to support organic farming. Synthetic
fertilizers are all too commonly used, so to buy and use organically is a great supporter
for this cause. Organizations have to use effective rhetoric in order to entice the citizens
of America toward an organic direction. Logical appeals about the harmfulness of one’s
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health from consuming inorganic foods are an effective way to catch the attention of
anybody who is concerned for their health. This is extremely effective when given to
mothers feeding their children and the health-conscience citizens.
Ethical appeals are often made to persuade. Referring to professionals and
groups, like the EPA, will encourage almost anyone to agree with one side of the issue.
Along with logos and ethos comes the most common appeal, pathos. Pictures of dead
fish, unhappy children, and dark, gloomy colors bring about sadness from the targeted
audience. The sorrow felt makes it nearly impossible to forget about the issue, therefore
raising the awareness.
There are several organizations that strive to protect and possibly reverse the
destruction dead zones have caused. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration,
or NOAA, is a group that attempts to care for our oceans’ life. Their goal is to address the
problems of human activities in our waters. They want to “conserve, protect, and enhance
biodiversity,” and they plan on doing this by creating laws that limit human interaction
with the water (Selkoe 36). The Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force is a relatively
newer group of people who plan on carrying out CMSP, or Coastal and Marine Spatial
Planning, which is a slightly different approach. This is yet another effort to preserve and
create for a better ocean environment (Mengerink 42). Another organization that helps to
do this is the United States Coast Guard. They are the people who will enforce the stricter
laws on fishing as an attempt to maintain the marine life that is still in existence (Labov
67). With their vast knowledge of the subject, it is organizations like these that can help
make legislation one day become law.
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In conclusion, many studies have shown that synthetic fertilizers are a menace to
the environment and are therefore a danger. If it were against the law to use petroleumbased and nitrogen-containing fertilizers, our aquatic life would be relieved of suffocation
and hopefully a natural ecosystem could once again be restored.
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Works Cited
Achenbach, Joel. "Dead Zones' Appear In Waters Worldwide." Washington Post, The
n.d.: Points of View Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 24 Feb. 2011.
"Agriculture a Threat to Ocean Life?" Environment 47.4 (2005): 8. Points of View
Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 21 Feb. 2011.
Berger, Adam. "Point: Organic Foods are a Healthier Alternative." Points of View:
Organic Food (2009): 2. Points of View Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 16 Apr.
2011.
Berger, Eric. "Low-Oxygen Area Now Deeper into Texas Waters: Largest-ever Gulf
Dead Zone Spans from Galveston to Mississippi River." Houston Chronicle (TX)
04 Aug. 2010: Points of View Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 24 Feb. 2011.
"Editorial: Cleaner Water: Maryland Shows What a Flush Tax Can Achieve." Daily
Press (Newport News, VA) 13 Sept. 2006: Points of View Reference Center.
EBSCO. Web. 24 Feb. 2011.
Harper, Scott. "New Ads Urge Less Fertilization to Help Bay Grow Healthy." VirginianPilot, The (Norfolk, VA) (2007): Points of View Reference Center. EBSCO. Web.
24 Feb. 2011.
Labov, Steven L. "Protecting Natural Resources." Rescue at Sea with the U. S. Canadian
Coast Guard. 67. Mason Crest Publishers, 2003. Points of View Reference Center.
EBSCO. Web. 16 Feb. 2011.
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Mengerink, Kathryn. "Planning for Our Oceans' Future." Environmental Forum 27.4
(2010): 42. Points of View Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 16 Feb. 2011
Roach, John. "Seafood May Be Gone by 2048, Study Says." Daily Nature and Science
News and Headlines | National Geographic News. 2 Nov. 2006. Web. 21 Feb.
2011.
Selkoe Kimberly A., et al. "In the Zone Comprehensive Ocean Protection." Issues in
Science & Technology 25.3 (2009): 33. Points of View Reference Center. EBSCO.
Web. 16 Feb. 2011.
Taylor, Steven K. Letter. “Letter to Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Working Group.” 16 July
1999. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 21 Feb. 2011.
Zabarenko, Deborah. "Agricultural and Biofuel News: Corn-based Ethanol Could
Worsen “‘Dead Zone’" Environmental News Network -- Know Your Environment.
11 Mar. 11. Web. 21 Feb. 2011.