Impacts of Beach Pollution on The Ocean Ecosystem

The presence of plastic, garbage, waste, pesticides, and oil along the shores of seas, lakes, or rivers will certainly harm ocean ecosystems. Unfortunately, most of this waste comes from human activities, where billions of pounds of garbage and other pollutants enter our oceans yearly. In addition, non-point source pollution is also the biggest source of pollution. It is pollution that occurs as a result of runoff. Examples include vehicles, farms, and septic tanks.

So, what are the impacts of beach pollution on the ocean ecosystem? Let's find out!

• Increased absorption of carbon dioxide (CO2)

Increased acidity of seawater, disruption of shellfish development, and damage to coral reefs are caused by increased absorption of CO2 by organisms in the sea which will also increase the toxic effects of some pollutants.

• Fish, mammals, and seabirds are threatened

They are threatened because plastic pollution breaks down into microplastic particles that contain chemicals that can contaminate the tissues of organisms, including species that humans consume.

• Hazardous pathogen migration

Harmful pathogens, such as Vibrio species (gram-negative bacteria), migrate due to being triggered by pollution and rising sea surface temperatures.

In addition to the impacts mentioned above, there are many other impacts of beach pollution on the ocean ecosystem. You can look for them on the internet or in books. So that the impact doesn't get worse, let's protect our oceans together!

References:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2020, April 1). Ocean pollution and marine debris. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 26, 2022, from https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/ocean-coasts/ocean-pollution

Redaksi Hijauku. (2021, February 18). Pencemaran lautan Merusak Ekosistem Dan Kesehatan. Situs Hijau Indonesia. Retrieved August 25, 2022, from https://hijauku.com/2021/02/13/bukti-pencemaran-ekosistem-merusak-lingkungan-dan-kesehatan/

Texas Disposal Systems. (2020, December 1). Ocean pollution: Causes, effects and prevention - TDS blog. Texas Disposal Systems. Retrieved August 26, 2022, from https://www.texasdisposal.com/blog/ocean-pollution-causes-effects-and-prevention

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2022, June 22). EPA. Retrieved August 25, 2022, from https://www.epa.gov/beaches/learn-what-affects-beach-health#:~:text=Pollution%20degrades%20and%20destroys%20unique,by%20rain%20or%20melting%20snow