POLLUTION OF THE AIR OR OF THE LAND ALL ULTIMATELY ENDS UP IN THE SEA

Hello Friday,

Welcome to Friday. In preparation for takeoff, please ensure all negative attitudes are properly stowed. On behalf of your captain, Dan and myself, welcome aboard. I expect sunshine and good attitudes today for our trip. Enjoy the ride.

I am concerned about the air we breathe and the water we drink. If over-fishing continues, if pollution continues, many of these species will disappear off the face of the earth. Water starts with the ocean and before we drink water, we need to know what’s happening to our ocean.

In a world that is rightly so concerned about climate change and the atmosphere, to be so ignorant and neglectful of our oceans is deeply troubling. However, … having woken up to this living disaster and having realized that there are limits to how much abuse we can inflict, it’s not too late to turn things around.

Pollution is defined as the process of introducing harmful or poisonous substances into the natural environment. Ocean pollution is therefore defined as the introduction of toxic materials such as plastic, oil, chemicals, agricultural waste, and industrial waste into the ocean waters. There can be several causes of ocean pollution, but the leading causes include sewage, toxic chemicals from industries, nuclear waste, thermal pollution, plastics, acid rain, and oil spillage.

The ocean is the lifeblood of our world. If we were to lose our fish that we appreciate so much by over-fishing; or if we were to lose some of our favorite beaches to overbuilding and pollution, then how would we feel? It’s become a case of not knowing what you’ve got until it’s gone. But by no means is it too late.

Sewage is defined as the wastewater and its component excrement's that are transported in the sewer system. Sewage is mostly comprised of the human waste from toilet flushing, dirty water from bathing and even animal waste. Most of the wastes find their way into the ocean waters through the sewer systems. Some of the substances that are in the sewage waste are harmful and contribute greatly to ocean pollution. These substances may cause serious health problems to the aquatic creatures once they consume them.

Another major pollutant is the chemicals from industries and from the fertilizers and other farm products that are carried by run-off water into the ocean waters.

Many industries dump their waste materials and chemicals into the ocean waters.

These chemicals pollute the ocean by altering the pH level of the waters. Most aquatic plants and animals cannot survive in adverse pH levels.

Another major ocean pollutant is the nuclear waste, which is mostly produced from industrial, medical, and also scientific procedures that use radioactive material. The common industries that produce nuclear waste include power stations, the military, and the reprocessing plants. This radiation enters the food chain through kelp and plankton, and once the marine animals consume these plants, they become contaminated.

Thermal pollution is the lowering of water quality by any method that tends to change the water temperature. Thermal pollution occurs when power plants and manufacturing companies release hot water into the water streams and oceans and thus causing a change in temperature by raising the temperatures higher. The sudden change in temperature causes reduction in the oxygen supply and this greatly affects the ecosystem composition. Aquatic plants and other organisms that are adapted to a certain temperature range get killed abruptly by the sudden change in temperature by a process known as thermal shock.

Plastic pollution mainly involves the accumulation of plastic in the ocean waters and thus causing adverse effects on marine organisms. Marine organisms are affected by the plastics through direct ingestion of the plastic wastes and also through exposure to chemicals that are within the plastics.

Acid rain is not a major cause of ocean pollution, but it also contributes to water pollution. Erupting volcanoes, fossil fuels, rotting vegetation, and nitrogen oxides when released into the atmosphere react with water and other substances in the air to form sulphuric and nitric acid. The wind blows these chemicals across the atmosphere, and when it rains, these chemicals find their way into the marine waters. Acid rain makes water acidic and thus destroys the marine life as most aquatic organisms cannot survive in acidic conditions.

Oil spillage is another primary cause of ocean pollution in that the oil forms a layer on the water preventing oxygen circulation. Lack of oxygen in the ocean waters results in the destruction of marine life over a long period. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent these pollutants from entering the oceans to protect the marine animals and plants.

We as a whole can make a change to save our ocean. Making a difference is learning about the ocean and how your actions have an impact. Keep reading to learn everyday things you can do to help protect and restore the seas. And don't forget to share what you've learned with friends and family.

🤭 LAUGHTER

Good morning Friday ⭐ have a great weekend🤭 Laughter is a language of the soul.

Until tomorrow, reminder - Fridays never swing the same, that's what makes it so charming, where is it heading to and oh what are we gonna do?

My blogging tomorrow will finally be on water and how it benefits our health. A trip to the beach or out on the water to snorkel or fish is a great way to learn more about the ocean and celebrate all it does for us. The next time you take a drink of water, take a bath or flush your toilet remember where it came from.