Essay Example on Marine Ports: Pollution & Health Risks

Marine ports are the main economic activity hubs hence are a great source of pollution. The equipment used at the marine port includes large ships whose engines run on dirty fuel, numerous diesel trucks, another diesel locomotive used to haul the cargo. This equipment and the activities that take place in a port have numerous environmental impacts that an affect both the ecology and the people living around the port. The impacts include increased exposure to illnesses like cancer, respiratory diseases, increased regional smog, the blight of public lands and local communities, and water quality degradation (Bell, 1971).

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Port operations lead to great damage to water quality and subsequent damage to human health, ecosystems, and marine life. The damage on water quality leads to both viral and bacterial contamination of shellfish, and commercial fish, bioaccumulation of toxins in fish, and oxygen depletion in the water. Main causes of water quality degradation include toxic substance leakages from ships, dredging, wastewater, and stormwater runoff.

The stormwater runoff comes from rain and other naturally occurring precipitations which are not polluting. The stormwater, however, travels as runoff on surfaces where it collects deposits of automotive fluids, metals, sediments, pesticides, and nutrients, among other pollutants. For instance, research shows that stormwater runoffs are the major cause of water quality degradation in the united states, and is also the second-largest pollutant in united states estuaries (Virjay et al., 2010). Stormwater carries a high quantity of pollutants that cause a dramatic change in water quality and hydrology.

Water pollution is also caused by eutrophication which occurs as a result of water bodies having a nitrogen overload. The overload causes planktons and algae to rise in number rapidly forming blooms. According to the National Research Council, eutrophication is the most severe cause of water pollution in the United States. It leads to around 44% of nitrogen water pollution. The alga blooms use all oxygen in the water killing fish and compromising the water quality

The port activities degrade water quality by altering its PH level. Some contaminants lower the water PH leading to acidification. When water mix with carbon dioxide from the contaminants, it results in carbonic acid. Carbonic acid is weaker than sulphuric and hydrochloric acids; hence its impacts may not be seen immediately but works like all acids causing an eventual release of hydrogen ions in the water. Lower water PH in Ocean may lead to the extinction of some organisms especially the calcium carbonate fixing ones

Lowered water PH can also weaken the metabolic processes of organisms in terms of breathing, feeding, and reproducing. Increased water acidity due to lowered PH, therefore, makes the aquatic organisms to be less resilient, less reproductive, and also do not diversify. For instance, coral reefs require calcium carbonate absorption for a stronger skeleton. When the waters are too acidic due to low ph., the skeletons dissolve, causing the reeds to die. The lower the water Ph, the more the number of organisms which will die.

Water quality is also degraded by heavy metals emitted as a result of port activities. Research carried out shows that entry of wastewater, runoffs, and sewage lead to the introduction of heavy metals. According to this research, the concentration of Mn, Cd, Ni, and Cr in waters with port activities is higher than the standard level. The heavy metals in degraded water are very harmfully to public hygiene and health. The water cannot be used for washing, fishing, or recreational activities as doing so pose detrimental impacts on the environment and human health.

Lastly, water bodies near ports are exposed to PAHs due to the wastewaters, stormwater runoffs, fossil fuel combustions, and petroleum spills. Water with PAHs is not only degraded but also carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic hence may cause skin, bladder, and lung cancer. According to research findings, high levels of exposure to PAHs cause immunosuppressive impacts an leads to oxidative stress n metabolism (Kose,2003).

Conclusion

It is necessary to take essential measures in controlling sewage entry into the water bodies around the ports. The sewage should be treated to eradiate metals and manage water quality to enhance water use for other purposes. Besides, all port operations have great impacts on marine life health and water quality. The wastes from ships and the other activities can degrade the water quality leading to subsequent degradation of marine habitats.

To sustain marine life, there should be strict observance of the environmental regulations. The port users should e cautious of their disposal methods. This will help to combat the potential health risks to both human and animals. Extinction of marine life is a sad state of affair to think about, but it is a possibility if disposal regulation measures are not adopted in good time. It should, therefore, be a sole responsibility for every person involved in port activities to ensure the right disposal of waste.

Bibliography

Bell, H., 1971. Effect of low pH on the survival and emergence of aquatic insects. Water Research, [online] 5(6), pp.313-319. Available at: <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/004313547190176X> [Accessed 4 April 2020].

Kose, T., Mukai, T., Takimoto, K. and Okada, M., 2003. Effect of non-aqueous phase liquid on biodegradation of PAHs in spilled oil on tidal flat. Water Research, [online] 37(8), pp.1729-1736. Available at: <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12697217> [Accessed 4 April 2020].

Vijay, R., Khobragade, P. and Sohony, R., 2010. Water quality simulation of sewage impacts on the west coast of Mumbai, India. Water Science and Technology, 62(2), pp.279-287.