Introduction
For years the ocean has been used as a dumping ground for the disposal of human wastes and garbage. We now find wastes produced by industrial societies washing up on remote tropical islands. Toxic chemicals have been found in the bodies of ocean animals. Many people are now aware of the hazards of polluting the water and are becoming involved in both local and large-scale efforts to clean up the marine environment (Carl, 1995).
This change in attitude and behavior occurred when people realized that marine pollution can produce harmful effects in living things, including humans. Although the ocean is vast and seems capable of absorbing great quantities of wastes, it is not unaffected by the activities of humans. Fortunately, the ocean is important to people—as a source of food, as a place for recreation, and for its natural beauty. How polluted is the ocean?
Sewage Pollution
Tens of thousands of years ago, people lived in small groups that traveled from one site to another as they hunted and gathered food. Garbage and wastes rarely accumulated, since populations were small and people never settled in one place for too long (and their wastes were from natural materials that degraded easily). People were able to move away from the messes they made. As they settled in more permanent communities, and populations grew, wastes began to accumulate (Gorman, 1993).
Pollution of Water
Most human populations lived along rivers and coasts. In these areas, there is access to water, food resources, and trade. Bodies of water have always been convenient places for people to dispose of wastes. In pre-industrial times, the water could dilute and wash away most of the wastes that were dumped into it. However, human populations along the world’s coasts have increased dramatically...........
