Ocean Pollution

Safety precautions allow us to have fun and enjoy ourselves at the beach without being harmed. When we think about how large the ocean is, it can be easy to forget that we have the potential to cause it harm. Though some might not think their own regular actions could have a negative effect on the ocean, they sometimes do. The United States Environmental Protection Agency reports that more than half of the US population lives within 50 miles of a coast. Also, around 180 million people visit a coast each year (US Environmental Protection Agency, 2008). That is a lot of stress on our precious beaches. The EPA has compiled a list of things one can do to reduce stress on our coasts:

• Conserve water in your daily life.
• Don't be wasteful: reduce, re-use, and recycle every day.
• Pick up trash, participate in trash clean-up days.
• Cut the rings of plastic six-pack holders. Aquatic life and birds can become entangled in them.
• Don't litter - streets and storm drains empty into rivers and streams that lead to our coasts.
• Choose non-toxic products for household use.
• Choose products carefully: avoid excess packaging.
• Dispose of household and yard chemicals properly; read their labels.
• Minimize use of fertilizers and pesticides on your yard.
• Make sure your septic system is operating properly;
• Respect your sewer system - don't pour toxic wastes, chemicals, or any medications down the toilet.
• Remember gutters and storm drains deliver water and contaminants to streams, rivers, and eventually the ocean.
• Maintain your boats, cars, and other heavy equipment to reduce oil leaks.
• Do not dump petroleum products, including oil down storm drains; recycle used motor oil.
• When visiting coral reefs, do not touch living coral.

 

Reference

The United States Environmental Protection Agency Official Web site. (2008). Retrieved August 1, 2009 from http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/oceanshelp.html

 

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