Ch 8.3 What are the problems caused by marine pollution? Flashcards
What are the causes of marine pollution?
Rapid population growth and urban development -> increase the demand for sea transport, energy resources, waste deposal, land for development
Explain on sea transport for the cause of marine pollution.
Marine traffic becomes heavy-> oil spilling
Explain on energy resources for marine pollution.
Energy resources-> increase in offshore oil drilling. -> oil spilling
Explain on waste disposal for the cause of marine pollution.
Sewage: factories, households and farm discharge huge amounts of sewage into the sea. The sea is unable to dilute and purify it.
Solid waste: large amount of solid waste, such as plastic bags are thrown into the sea.
Explain on land development for the cause of marine pollution.
Reclamation materials may be toxic
How does heavy metals, toxic chemicals and bacteria in the waste cause negative impact to the environment?
First, it causes diseases to marine life, or even kill them. Second, it contaminated the food chain and affect the whole marine ecosystem.
How does the excess nutrients in sewage have negative impacts of water pollutants on the marine environment?
Excess chemical fertilisers from farms -> nutrients in seawater increase -> rapid growth of algae -> oxygen in water decreases -> Kill marine life.
What is the environmental problem known as for the marine life die from suffocation?
Eutrophication
What is the negative impact of marine pollution which caused by plastic waste?
Plastic waste is harmful because it takes long time to break down, it spreads to other marine zones with the waves and it traps and choke the marine animals.
What are the preventive measures of easing the problem of marine pollution?
Pass laws to regulate water disposal, monitor water quality, introduce sewage charges regulate reclamation , education and reduce the production of plastic waste
Explain on the point of pass laws to regulate waste disposal.
Pass laws to control marine pollution like waste disposal ordinance, waste pollution control ordinance
Explain on the point of monitoring water quality
Set up 10 water control zones with different standards of water quality to help reduce pollution and improve marine water quality.
Explain on the point of introducing sewage charges.
People who produce sewage should pay charges according to the polluter-pays principle. Through this, people will reduce the amount of sewage produced.
Explain on the point of regulate reclamation .
First, large scale reclamation projects must pass assessment on their possible effects like the Environmental Impact assessment. Second, use eco-friendly method of reclamation like deep cement mixing. Third, limit the scale of reclamation project if possible.
Explain on the point of education.
Carry out education and various promotion activities to raise public awareness of conserving the oceans.