Monday, October 15, 2007

Beach & Ocean Pollution







Today 15 October 2007 is Blog Action Day. This means that bloggers around the web will come together to bring out a single important issue - the environment. Every blogger may post about "The Environment" in his/her own way and about their own topic. What is the goal?... to get everyone talking towards a better future for us and for our children.
http://www.blogactionday.org/

I would like to talk a bit about Beach & Ocean Pollution. This summer I took a trip to a beach in South Carolina. I love the sandy beaches, the warm ocean water and my all time favorite picking sea shells. I was appalled by the number of cigarette butts that smokers discarded on the beach while sunbathing, fishing or just taking a stroll. My suggestion for these people.... "Keep Your Butt Off The Beach"! The attached picture to this post was one that I took of these "Butts on the Beach".

We also find many other forms of garbage on our beaches. aluminum cans, plastic bottles, fishing lures, fishing line, glass bottles, and metal debris. All of these items sooner or later get washed into the oceans or seas. They all pose a threat to not only the living creatures of the seas but also to our own lives.

Toxic Wastes are poisonous materials that dumped into the ocean. They harm plants and animals in the ocean and also have an impact on our health. When toxic waste harms an organism, it can quickly be passed along the food chain and may eventually end up being our seafood. Toxic waste gets into the seas and oceans by the leaking of landfills, dumps, mines, farms and factories.
Toxic Chemicals in the ocean may be killing much of the fish population. One of the most harmful chemicals in the ocean is lead.
Medical Waste is also found in the ocean and is being tested to see if swimmers have a chance of developing Hepatitis or AIDS.
How do we decrease the amount of waste in the oceans?... by recycling as much garbage as we can so there are smaller amounts of harmful materials into the ocean.
Garbage Dumping pertains to harmful materials being dumped into the ocean. For example, human waste, ground-up garbage, water from bathing, and plastics. Most of the waste that has been dumped into the ocean in the early 1990's is still there today... Amazing.. Isn't it??!!
One main cause of garbage dumping occurs when sewage pipes share space with storm water drains. Rainfall causes the pipes to overflow and sewage waste mixes with the storm water drain, this flows into another water source such as a lake or river. Then the garbage pollutes the ocean.
Some other types of Pollution are:
Wastewater: The run-off from rainwater which usually ends up in rivers, lakes, and oceans.
Boat Pollution: This comes from the boat's engine when it is running. The chemicals in the exhaust from the engine which give off excess gasoline.
Car Pollution: When a car gets driven, smoke comes from the back of the car. This smoke ends up being acid rain.
Agriculture Pollution: Chemical pesticides, chemical or natural substances.

Chemical detergents, batteries, plastics, and sewage are all produced and used in homes by humans everyday. People are creating a risk to the plants and animals that live in the oceans and lakes.
How can we help the Environment of our Beaches and Oceans? First and foremost when you ARE on the beach, take your garbage with you!
- recycle plastics
- dispose properly of batteries
- use less water
- carpool
- recycling
- do not throw litter in the street
- do not wash your car or change your oil on the road or driveway. The oil and detergent will be washed into the storm drain.
- create less rubbish in the first place
- buy products in biodegradable packaging
- re-use your plastic shopping bags
** Tell your friends and family... or anyone you see littering about the dangers of rubbish and garbage to marine animals. Encourage them to do the "Right Thing" with litter!

This is our land, our beaches, and our oceans... Only WE can take care of them.

Do What Is Right For Our Environment!
Lori Palermo

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