1.
Medical Waste in the Oceans
One of the crucial problems in the
world today is the medical waste that is dumped into the oceans. The medical
waste that is dumped into the ocean is items such as surgical gloves, swabs,
body organ cultures, and bloody bandages. All of these medical materials come
from hospitals, veterinary clinics, laboratories, and stem cell research
facilities.
The problems of the medical waste
that is dumped into the oceans are the possible medical toxin effects that
might affect marine animals and even humans. Since some of the medical waste
contains blood on it, HIV and AIDS is a problem that might affect animals and
human in total. Also toxins are another problem at can affect animals and
humans. Since toxins are passing into the oceans and into the marine animals,
toxins will also be passed into the food. The toxins could human growth,
developmental of human health, and death. There is a statistic that states
between 10 to 15 percent of the medical waste are infectious.
Direct effects and indirect effects
can result from medical waste. Direct wastes are examples such as the pathogens
when dumped that contaminate the waters. As stated above, these pathogens
affect both animals and humans together. Since the pathogens breed best in these
conditions, the pathogens may end up in ground water and food sources. Indirect
effects are examples such as pathogens that were not present when waste was
discarded such as in human tissue. Since the immune system is not in check with
the human tissue, population explosion of the pathogens can occur.
There are possible solutions to
prevent medical waste being dumped into the oceans. Proper management of the
materials include separating materials to prevent against workers getting a
possible infectious disease, waste receptacles, and protective equipment
necessary to handle the waste.
Overall, medical waste is a
hazardous to the environment. The pathogens in the medical waste may affect
marine animals and human both. These pathogens can cause harmful effects such
as human growth, health development, and even death. There are solutions to
prevention the dumping of medical waste in the ocean.
Sources:
Jorgensen, A. (n.d.). ehow health. Retrieved from
http://www.ehow.com/about_5137120_effects-medical-waste.html
Wang, D.
(2010, July 17). The effects of medical waste being dumped in the ocean.
Retrieved from
http://www.livestrong.com/article/177094-the-effects-of-medical-waste-being-dumped-in-the-ocean/
2. Fertilizer runoff and Runaway Eutrophication
Fertilizer runoff is a main component of overall water pollution. This
type of runoff accelerates the natural process of eutrophication. Fertilizer
runoff is a global concern and is threat to developed and developing nations
alike. All fishing industries located near river deltas can be decimated by
water pollution, especially nutrient pollution. Within the United States , the Mississippi River delta and
the Gulf of MexicoGreat Lakes was
wiped out due to eutrophication and fertilizer runoff. The group hopes to solve
this threat to local coastal communities and biodiversity by designing a
solution to control soil erosion. An alternate solution may be to develop a
more effective method of applying fertilizer in commercial farming processes.
Fertilizer runoff and subsequent eutrophication is principally but not
solely an environmental concern. Eutrophication is of extreme concern because
phytoplankton help comprise the basis of marine ecosystems. Therefore, any
threat to these creates is also a threat to every animal in the food web. When
these organisms are killed off, all organisms dependent upon them also die.
Since this process removes almost all available oxygen in an environment, the
succession of other marine organism is nearly impossible. Nutrient enhanced
eutrophication is a threat to global biodiversity.
Nutrient pollution from fertilizer runoff is also a financial concern.
The worldwide fishing industry could become severely curtailed if a solution to
agricultural runoff is not implemented. This would be especially disastrous to
developing and undeveloped nations with populations reliant upon the sea for
their livelihoods. Developed nations with coastal tourist centers would also
suffer from eutrophication proliferation.
Nutrient pollution creates large dead zones in ocean habitats.
Excessive eutrophication results from fertilizer runoff entering waterways.
Nitrates and phosphates contained in fertilizers cause phytoplankton population
to grow beyond the habitat’s capacity for microorganisms. This large scale
blooming of phytoplankton is often referred to as a “red tide” due to its
appearance. The organisms consume all of the oxygen in their environment
quickly, and the other inhabitants as well as the phytoplankton suffocate and
die. The areas left behind are desolate in life as they contain no oxygen.
Nutrient pollution from fertilizer runoff is not just the result of
aggressive commercial farming techniques. However, commercial farming is the
largest non-point source of nutrient pollution that leads to widespread
eutrophication. Residential fertilizer use in developed nations contributes to
this issue.
A design could be developed to prevent the entrance of nitrates and
phosphates into waterways. This filtering device could physically constrain and
capture the runoff or chemically neutralize the offensive substances. One
benefit of this approach would be that it would prevent damage to marine
environment. This solution would address the underlying problem of soil
erosion. A drawback might be the practicality of constructing filtering devices
along miles of rivers and coastline.
Sources:
Muir, P. (2011, November 18). Retrieved
from http://people.oregonstate.edu/~muirp/eutrophi.htm
UNEP. (n.d.). Where nutrients come from and how they cause eutrophication.
Retrieved from http://www.unep.or.jp/ietc/publications/short_series/lakereservoirs-3/3.asp
3. Use of UV
Rays to Purify Water
Statistics have shown that 85% of child sickness and 65% of adult
diseases come from water borne viruses, bacterial, and intestinal protozoa likeCryptosporidium. Water that is not
treated properly can lead to numerous of health problems such as hepatitis B,
tuberculosis, choler, salmonella, and many others. E. coli is a dangerous
strain of bacteria that is in water. E. coli affects more than 80,000 people
yearly. However, E. coli can be killed by U.V. rays.
The process of using U.V. rays to
disinfect water from E. coli is affordable and easy. The process entails using
a mirror and chamber system to magnify the sun’s rays directly at water running
through chamber to purify water. This causes ultraviolet light to be absorbed
by bacteria and viruses. This absorption causes the genetic material in the
bacteria and virus to rearrange, leaving them unable to reproduce.
Source:
Mbuya, O.
(2011, October 18). Ultravoilet light disinfection. Retrieved from
http://www.excelwater.com/eng/b2c/water_tech_3.php
4. Ocean
Acidification
What is ocean
acidification? Ocean acidification stems from the increase absorption of carbon
dioxide by the ocean water. The carbon dioxide that is absorbed causes the pH
of the ocean water to decrease; in turn making the ocean water more acidic.
Lowering the pH
of the ocean leads to detrimental effects, specifically for marine calcifying
organisms. These organisms include: sea stars, corals, mollusks, crustaceans,
and others. It has been tested that lowering the pH of the water around them
leads to a reduction in their calcifying raters. Furthermore, tests also show
that there is a lower larvae survival rate when these organisms are exposed to
the acidic water. It also has been speculated that other adverse reproductive
and anatomical effects will be seen in the future in many of these marine
organisms in result of the rising ocean acidity.
Stopping ocean
acidification is an impossible task. However, slowing the rate of ocean
acidification is possible. Scientists are now finding ways to slow down ocean
acidification by imposing different laws and cutting down on the amount of
carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere. The only problem is having
the public follow these laws. However, if we all work as a community, the rate
at which ocean acidification is grown can be slowed down.
Source:
NRDC. (2009,
September 17). Natural resources defence council. Retrieved from
http://www.nrdc.org/oceans/acidification/
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