Marine Pollution 1

Absorb

take in; assimilate

CONTAMINATION

the damaging effects of the materials

Inputs

the occurrence of materials in the sea

Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009

will ensure clean healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas, by putting in place better systems for delivering sustainable development of marine and coastal environment.

Marine Sampling

Water, Sediments, Biota

Adsorb

a substance, usually a gas, accumulates on the surface of a solid forming a thin film

How chemicals or waste disperse dependent on...

abiotic conditions (non-living chemical and physical factors) i.e. the temperature, currents and water depth.

Biological pollution/ bio pollution

adverse effects of invasive alien species (IAS) on quality of aquatic and terrestrial environment

Impacts of Bio pollution on levels of biological organisms

an individual organism (internal biological pollution by parasites or pathogens), a population (by genetic change, i.e. hybridization of IAS with a native species), a community or bioceonosis (by structural shifts, i.e. dominance of IAS, replacement or elimination of native species), a habitat (by modification of physical-chemical conditions), an ecosystem (by alteration of energy and organic material flow).

Tributyltin (TBT)

biocide which is used to prevent marine fouling, highly toxic to marine organisms, causes Imposex

Imposex

"female masculinisation", malformed shells, reduced flesh

EU Commission's Marine water framework directive 2008

Aims to achieve good environmental status in Europe's seas by 2020

Complexities of Marine Pollution

All contaminants, unless adsorbed/absorbed at point of entry in the environment, will travel away from point of entry Inputs may have a point source or diffuse source Contaminants do not recognize county, national or international boundaries At any time during this movement, contaminants or their by-products can be adsorbed/absorbed and can affect the biotic environment When adsorbed/absorbed, the contaminant is not necessarily going to remain in its initial state

Remobilisation

Contaminants may be held in sediments and remobilised into the marine environment through disturbances of sediments e.g. dredging/turbulence/increase of detergents (weakens surface tension).

Pollution term

Environmental damage caused by materials discharged into the sea The occurrence of materials in the sea The materials themselves

What are the major factors which drive the control and clean-up of pollution

Financial - economic losses (fishing, tourism, industry) Social - Tourism, beliefs Health - commercial plants and animals, direct contamination. Environmental - natural populations, bioaccumulation/biomagnification.

Best indicators of Marine Pollution

Macro Algae (Kelp) Fauna

Inputs in the sea

Most occur naturally, include; Organics, inorganics, nutrients, heat, chemicals, bio-pollution, oil, PM, radioactivity, noise. PLASTIC only truly anthropogenic input.

non-point source

Run-off from unconfirmed areas, Wet and dry atmospheric deposition over a water surface

Example of species which exist in high acidity and heat

Scaly Foot Gastropod Yeti Lobster

Point Sources

Specific run-off (such as from construction sites, disposal sites, drain water, storm sewer outfalls) discharge from sewage pipeline

Shellfish Waters Directive 1979(79/923/EC)

The Directive establishes a list of parameters and standards for water quality and Shellfish Waters have been designated in coastal/estuarial areas of the North Sea

EIA Directive (97/11/EC)

The EIA Directive requires an Environmental Impact Assessment of certain projects.

Marine Fowling

The growth of organisms (flora - bacteria, algae (diatoms kelp): fauna - barnacles, tubeworms, mussels, sponges etc.) on boat bottoms/marine constructions

Surface Waters (Dangerous Substances) (Classification) Regulations 1997 & 1998

The regulations set Environmental Quality Standards (EQSs) for estuarine and marine waters which must not be exceeded. These EQSs must be taken into account when carrying out or licensing dredging operations.

Contamination

inputs above the natural levels for particular area, background concentrations vary from place to place

POLLUTION

inputs that are present at levels greater than found naturally, or result in adverse effects on the marine environment

Bioaccumulation

refers to the accumulation of substances, such as pesticides, or other organic chemicals, in an organism.

Water Framework Directive (WFD) and implementing Regulations 2003

provide for the implementation process of the WFD from designation of all surface waters as water bodies to achieving good ecological status by 2015.

Biomagnification

tissue concentrations of a contaminant accumulate and increase as it passes up the food chain through two or more trophic levels, e.g. from micro organisms to small fish to tuna to humans.

Water's Role

universal solute and most particulates and waste products are soluble in it