Ocean pollution facts for kids
Ocean pollution is when harmful things get into the sea and oceans. It's a type of water pollution. This happens when chemicals, trash, and other bad stuff enter the ocean. Most of this pollution comes from everyday activities by people. We call it nonpoint-source pollution. This is because it's hard to tell exactly where it came from. All dirty water eventually flows into a stream. Streams then lead to rivers, and all rivers eventually reach the ocean.
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Harmful Substances in the Ocean
Many harmful materials end up in our oceans. These include sewage, dissolved metals, and waste from farms or factories. Even crude oil spilled from oil tankers causes big problems. The three main things that pollute water are nitrates from fertilizers, sewage, and detergents. When these toxic chemicals and metals enter the water, tiny animals like plankton eat them. Then, larger animals eat the smaller ones. This means the toxins move up the food chain. These toxins can cause mutations, diseases, and problems with reproduction in marine life.
Too Many Nutrients
Activities like bathing or washing clothes near a stream can cause nutrient pollution. This happens when too many nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorous, get into the water. These nutrients then travel to the ocean. This leads to a huge growth of algae on the water's surface. This thick layer of algae blocks sunlight and air from reaching the water below. This makes it hard for other plants and animals to survive.
Plastic Everywhere
Plastic pollution in the ocean is a big problem. It includes everything from large plastic bottles and bags to tiny pieces. These tiny pieces are called microplastics and nanoplastics. About 80% of all marine debris (trash in the ocean) is plastic. Plastic garbage floating in the ocean harms marine life. Animals can get tangled in it or suffocate. If plastics are small enough, animals might eat or breathe them. This can seriously damage their organs.
Helping Our Oceans
Humans have caused a lot of harm to the ocean. But now, we are starting to work together to help. Countries are making promises to clean up the ocean. They also want to save the ocean's resources. Many countries have even created special groups. Their main goal is to protect the environment.
Amazing Facts About Ocean Pollution
- Ocean pollution kills over one million sea birds every year.
- The five most common items found in coastal cleanups are all single-use plastics.
- There are more microplastics in the ocean than there are stars in the Milky Way.
- Fish and other marine life often can’t tell the difference between plastic and food. If an animal eats plastic, it can’t digest it. The plastic fills their stomachs, making them starve to death.
- Noise pollution from shipping and military activities can damage cells. This affects invertebrates like jellyfish and anemones.
- 100,000 marine animals die each year from getting tangled in plastic.
- There is an ocean garbage patch that is twice the size of Texas.
- Oceans have "dead zones" where pollution has made it impossible for marine plants or animals to live.
Images for kids
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Acid mine drainage in the Rio Tinto River
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A cargo ship pumps ballast water over the side
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A graph linking atmospheric dust to various coral deaths across the Caribbean Sea and Florida.
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Can floating in the ocean
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Beach littered with garbage
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An island with a fringing reef in the Maldives. Coral reefs are dying around the world.
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A polluted lagoon
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Marine debris removal in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NOAA removed approximately 57 tons of derelict fishing nets and plastic litter from the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument's tiny islands and atolls, sensitive coral reefs and shallow waters).
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Parties to the MARPOL 73/78 convention on marine pollution (as of April 2008)
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The Great Pacific garbage patch causes vast quantities of trash to wash ashore at the south end of Hawaii.
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See also
In Spanish: Contaminación marina para niños
