Marine pollution is the contamination of ocean and seawater. Seawater is a source of food, commerce, energy and natural coastguard. But with the physical, chemical and biological changes in seawater, it becomes unusable for a number of things.
Some of the sources of marine pollution are as follows:
1. Sediments:
Soil erosion due to agriculture and mining causes marine pollution. It causes growth of algae in the water.
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2. Sewage:
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Pathogens generate from sewage and livestock. They cause diseases like cholera and typhoid in human beings.
3. Industrial wastes:
Industrial wastes that find their way into the sea and oceans pollute the waters.
4. Toxins:
Toxins like heavy metals, pesticides and fertilizers cause tremendous harm to the waters. They harm the marine life.
5. Oil spills:
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Our oceans and rivers are prone to problems like spills from oil tankers, accidental spillage, cleaning of fuel tanks of ships, refineries and offshore drilling.
When discharged in water, oil spreads on water to form a layer of oil or oil slicks. These are very harmful for marine birds, mammals, fish, turtles, sea-otters, killer whales and some marine animals are facing life threat due to oil spills.
6. Thermal pollution:
The water which is used for cooling nuclear reactors when discharged into sea causes harm to marine life.