By Ashley Joseph

When I tell you to close your eyes and picture the ocean, you may imagine the friendly chatter of seagulls gawking around, maybe even the gentle rush of the waves, squealing kids running about, or the trickling warm sand at your feet. The ocean is widely viewed as a safe haven for individuals, or as an escape from the regularities of a 9 to 5 life. Moreover, life thrives in all parts of the ocean, including minute algae, plants, plankton, fish, manatees, reptiles, sharks, rays, and birds. With such abundant life, why have we made this vast resource for life on Earth our biggest dumping ground?

In spite of the ocean sustaining human existence, regulating the climate, providing food, and supplementing the economy, humans have not reciprocated this abundance and care. In this throw-away society where everything is single-use, made of plastic, and non-biodegradable, our trash usually ends up in the ocean. According to a study published in Science, eight million metric tons of plastic end up in our oceans every year, and this number could multiply ten times over the course of the next ten years if steps are not taken to minimize the amount of plastic thrown into the waters (Sifferlin, 2015). Trash ends up polluting the water, killing precious marine life, and degrading the environment. Distressingly, it can entangle, cut, choke, and weigh down birds, fish, turtles, and other ocean life. Furthermore, chemical and industrial waste, radioactive waste, sewage, fertilizer, and other dredged materials are carelessly dumped with little to no regard for the marine environment. This continues to be a rising problem in today’s society.

Furthermore, in 1968, the National Academy of Sciences estimated 100 million tons of petroleum products, three million tons of acid chemical waste, and more than 100,000 tons of organic chemical waste were dumped into the ocean. In 1970, a report from the Environmental Protection Agency estimated that 38 million tons of unearthed material, 4.5 million tons of industrial waste, 4.5 million tons of contaminated sewage, and 0.5 million tons of construction debris found its way to the coastal waters. Moreover, EPA records show that between 1946 and 1970, more than 55,000 containers of radioactive waste were dumped in the Pacific Ocean. From 1951 to 1962, 4,000 containers of radioactive waste were dumped at three separate ocean sites off the East Coast in the United States alone (“Learn about Ocean Dumping,” 2020). Our choices have consequences, with the potential to last for centuries.

The escalating heaps of trash in the ocean have well-known consequences for marine life, but are also an emerging human health issue whose effects are still being researched. Plastic debris spreads throughout the ocean, carrying contaminants and hazardous toxins that are ingested by ocean life. In turn, humans ingest the contaminated marine life. Toxins such as lead, cadmium, and mercury, have been found in fish, birds, turtles, mammals, and numerous other animals. These toxins are linked to cancers, birth defects, anemia, weakness, childhood developmental issues, and brain damage. Indirect chemicals such as Bisphenol are found in the inner lining of food containers to prevent disintegration. In humans, Bisphenol A, or BPA, acts as an endocrine disruptor. By successfully imitating the production and functionality of the body’s natural hormones, it disrupts normal hormone function (Andrews, 2020), resulting in catastrophic effects on the human body.

With the staggering risks to human health and the marine environment, Congress enacted the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA). In 1972, MPRSA became a United States policy intended to regulate the dumping of materials that can negatively impact human health, the marine environment, and ecological systems. Comparatively, the Shore Protection Act (SPA) applies to the transportation of local and commercial waste in coastal areas. The SPA aims to prevent insufficient hazardous waste transportation procedures to minimize debris from being deposited along the shore. The Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) implements provisions and is oriented towards studying the detrimental effects of improper disposal of plastics on the environment and environmental regulations meant to eliminate such effects (“Laws Meant to Protect Our Oceans,” 2018).

Even with the implementation of governmental regulations, individuals have the capability to raise awareness and to call for reform. At the local level, individuals have the power to ignite a fury of change in societies worldwide. No matter how small, it is a step in the right direction. Trading in plastic straws, recycling, throwing away our trash, and demanding improvement from corporations and the government can go a long way. Educating youth at an early age can allow them to develop good habits, and to find a new normal. A normal where the ocean is treated with respect and compassion. We would be infuriated if a perceived friend trashed our home, so now it is our time to be infuriated for the home of marine animals. It is time to cut down on our waste generation and to prioritize protection of marine life and ocean habitats.

Although many challenges still remain when it comes to protecting ocean health and marine life, great strides continue to be made with the regulations under MPRSA and increased awareness. The ocean is so much more than a dumping ground. It is where life flourishes, an escape for individuals, and a beautiful abyss. Most of all, it is home.

Works Cited

Andrews, G. (2020, January 13). Plastics in the Ocean Affecting Human Health. Retrieved August 21, 2020, from https://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/health/case_studies/plastics.html

Laws that Protect Our Oceans. (2018, June 26). Retrieved August 21, 2020, from https://www.epa.gov/beach-tech/laws-protect-our-oceans

Learn about Ocean Dumping. (2020, July 17). Retrieved August 21, 2020, from https://www.epa.gov/ocean-dumping/learn-about-ocean-dumping

Sifferlin, A. (2015, February 12). Here's How Much Plastic Ends Up In the World's Oceans. Retrieved August 21, 2020, from https://time.com/3707112/plastic-in-the-ocean/

Our Dumping Grounds