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Saltwater Pollution

Saltwater is another term that refers to the marine aquatic ecosystems. It is called saltwater or a salt-based ecosystem because of the high level of salinity of the water in comparison to the freshwater ecosystem. Examples of saltwater bodies include seas, oceans, estuaries, lagoons and coral reefs. Sources of pollution in saltwater include runoffs from land-based activities, vessel discharge, dumping and invasive species.

  1. Dumping

    • Dumping occurs when wastes are deliberately disposed of from different types of man-made vessels and structures into the sea or ocean. Such vessels include ships, tankers, oil rigs and aircraft. Dumping also includes the abandonment of the vessels themselves at sea. The wastes generated from these vessels contribute to the pollution of the marine or saltwater environment and consequently lead to the degradation of this aquatic ecosystem.

    Aquatic Nuisance Species

    • The United States Coast Guard (USSG) list Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) as significant marine pollutants. The main sources of ANS are the ballast tanks of ships plying marine waters. These ships take up ballast waters from different sources and discharge them in areas far from where the water was taken. Information from the Coast Guard explains that the ballast waters often carry foreign plants, bacteria, pathogens and animals. They often proliferate at the expense of the native species, leading to their displacement and a degradation of native habitats. For example, some nuisance aquatic plant species clog up the waterways, polluting the waters and disrupting economic and social activities dependent on that water resource.

    Land-Based Pollution Runoffs

    • The activities on land have a huge impact on the pollution of aquatic water bodies. For instance, runoffs from pesticides and fertilizers enter seas or major rivers and, eventually, the oceans. Some of the components of these agricultural runoffs include nitrate and ammonium. Other sources of land-based runoffs include sewage and the byproducts of industrial activities. Runoffs such as sewage promote algal blooms or red tides, which not only cause depletion in oxygen supply but also release harmful toxins.

    Oil and Litter

    • Oil pollution comes from both land-based sources and direct incidents at sea. Runoffs from leaking onshore oil storage tanks, vehicles, heavy machinery and oil tanker accidents eventually wind up in the marine environment. Oil rig explosions, acts of war and vessel accidents cause oil spills in the oceans and seas and pollute the environment. Litter from man's activities, such as fishing nets, plastic bottles and soda cans from yachts and cruise ships, all contribute to the pollution of the marine environment.

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