Toxic Chemicals vs. The World s Marine Environments. Julia Hemp Ms. Brown Period 3 Marine Biology Honors 3 December 2012

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1 Toxic Chemicals vs. The World s Marine Environments Julia Hemp Ms. Brown Period 3 Marine Biology Honors 3 December 2012

2 Table of Contents I. Toxic Chemical Pollution: 1) History 2) Definition 3) Types of Chemicals 4) Causes 5) Effects 6) Biotic Factors 7) Abiotic Factors 8) Regulation 9) Solutions

ecosystems, current national and international governing laws to protect these environments and

3 Introduction/Thesis Toxic chemicals are threatening the world. It is significant to recognize the extent and causes of the issue, effects on marine species and ecosystems, current national and international governing laws to protect these environments and humans, as well as, multi-level solutions to prevent, reduce, control and/or eliminate marine degradation from toxic chemical pollution.

History Chemical Toxic Waste has been a problem for centuries. In World War II, when severe incidents of toxic chemical exposure occurred, chemical toxic waste pollution became a prominent issue.

4 History Chemical Toxic Waste has been a problem for centuries. In World War II, when severe incidents of toxic chemical exposure occurred, chemical toxic waste pollution became a prominent issue. Bob Bohle states: The impact of humans (and the industrial world) has now reached every square mile of the Earth s oceans, and implications are ominous for ocean creatures and humans alike the introduction of toxins into the environment has strongly impacted roughly 40% of marine ecosystems (1).

Definition Toxic chemical pollution is a pollution caused by pollutants/ substances of hazardous chemical natures or natural chemical substances that accumulate

5 Definition Toxic chemical pollution is a pollution caused by pollutants/ substances of hazardous chemical natures or natural chemical substances that accumulate to toxic levels in the environment. An estimated 70,000 chemicals in commerce in the US, with an additional 1,000 or so new chemical produced each year (Sea Web 2).

6 Types of Toxic Chemicals There is considerable diversity in the types, distribution and sources of marine toxic chemical pollutants. 1. Substances that do not occur naturally, synthetic or human-made, in the environment: PCBs, DDTs, dioxins, TBT, nonylphenolethoxylates (NP/NPE), short-chained chlorinated paraffins, plastic resin pellets, brominated flame retardants (PBDEs) and radioactive waste.

8 Types of Toxic Chemicals (Cont.) 2. Chemicals existing as substances, occurring at concentrations that exceed natural levels: Heavy metals, like lead, copper, cadmium, petroleum, and mercury.

Causes This type of pollution occurs as a result of a variety of reasons: Individual human activities: fuel combustion in cars, household cleaning disinfecting agents

10 Causes This type of pollution occurs as a result of a variety of reasons: Individual human activities: fuel combustion in cars, household cleaning disinfecting agents Industrial or manufacturing origins: industry and sewage treatment plants, nuclear power plants, plastic resin pellets Natural environmental processes or disasters: rainwater run-off

11 Effects The effects of toxic chemical pollutants are widespread. Marine life populations: massive marine dieoffs, marine mammal disease Chemicals threatening human health due to bio-accumulating properties Degrading the ecosystem s chemical and reactive properties.

12 Beluga Whale

Biotic Factors Reduction in populations of whales, fish, sea stars, and shrimp due to food scarcity. This will create a mass chain reaction and decrease number of marine predators.

13 Biotic Factors Reduction in populations of whales, fish, sea stars, and shrimp due to food scarcity. This will create a mass chain reaction and decrease number of marine predators. The interactions between organisms of the same species can be affected, like their cooperation, competition, territorial divisions, and organization. Symbiotic interactions, competition, and parasitism can be affected in animals of different species.

14 Abiotic Factors Oxygen content: the amount of oxygen usually determines the number and types of organisms living in that body of water. Temperature and Salinity: any significant decrease/increase is lethal to organisms living in those ecosystems. Ph and light: High concentrations and decreased light can cause a lack of needed nutrients to organisms.

15 Regulation The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the direction of the United States Government, influences not only The United States but also 180 other nations worldwide. According to the EPA: uncertainties have delayed or prevented regulatory action, particularly since the onus is on government and society to prove damage rather than on the chemical producer, user, or polluter to prove safety (Summary of the Toxic Substances Act 1).

16 Regulation (Cont.) To promote a cleaner ecosystem for the entire world, the EPA created the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in It reviews and regulates chemicals that could impact the marine environment and environments beyond.

17 Solutions It is possible to resolve toxic chemical pollution and its deleterious effects on marine environments. A massive, multi-dimensional approach in pollution management, and investment by citizens and governments from every country in the world would be necessary.

18 Conclusion The marine environment has the right to exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles, structure, function, and its processes in evolution.

19 Works Cited Bohle, Bob. The Effects of Ocean Pollution on Marine Mammals. BlueVoice.org. n.d. Web. 24 November Castro, Peter and Michael E. Huber. Marine Biology. McGraw-Hill: New York, NY Print. Chapter 14 Toxicology. Comprepid.tuskegee.edu. n.d. Web. 24 November Hutchinson, Stephen and Lawrence E. Hawkins. Oceans: A Visual Guide. Firefly Books: Canada Print. International Programs. Epa.gov. United States Environmental Protection Agency, 4 October Web. 24 November Ocean Issue Briefs. Seaweb.org. SeaWeb. nd. Web. 24 November Rogers, Matt. Water Pollution and Biotic/Abiotic Factors of the Ecosystem. Waterpollutionawarenescnblogsport.com. Water Pollution Awareness, 15 April Web. 24 November and-bioticabiotic.html Summary of the Toxic Substances Control Act. Epa.gov. United States Environmenta Protection Agency, 23 August Web.24 November TSCA Modernization. Americanchemistry.com. American Chemistry Council Web. 24 November

TOXIC CHEMICALS MADELINE ROBERTS

TOXIC CHEMICALS MADELINE ROBERTS Sources of impact: Not only do the toxic chemicals that surround us every day effect our health, but they also contribute a great deal to global warming while destroying