TX. TECHNOLOGY FOR ABATING OCEAN POLLUTION 
The sources and types of marine pollutants have been mentioned, 
‘and institutional proceedings have been documented. Legislation 
directed at limiting or preventing marine pollution has been enacted. 
Other measures are continually being drafted as legislators determine 
and evaluate their necessity. Prevention of pollution, where possible, 
is preferable to clean up and control; however, it is recognized that 
unavoidable or deliberate marine pollution is a continuing problem 
that must be met. Often this requires development of specialized 
technology. Research for dealing with ocean pollution is progressing 
along three lines: prevention of ‘willful chronic discharge, prevention 
-of accidental pollution, and pollution cleanup. 
Prevention of Chronic Discharge 
Control of ocean pollution is not entirely a matter of legislating 
and enforcing restrictions to prevent willful discharge of pollutants. 
Jn some cases, willful discharge results from inability to deal with a 
pollutant in a more responsible manner. This inability may be derived 
‘from the lack of technical development to provide any alternative 
“means of disposal or ‘recovery. For example, oil-water separation equip- 
‘ment on offshore oil production platforms must be capable of separa- 
tions to 50 ppm oil in water in order to prevent discharges of unaccep- 
table amounts of oil. Technology has been developed to accomplish 
‘this. Improved technology for more efficient conversion of thermal 
-enerey to electricity has and can continue to cut down on thermal 
pollution from power plants. Improved technology in treating and 
-developing new uses for municipal wastes has helped decrease the 
preblems of municipal waste disposal which, if widely adopted, will 
-eventually lead to less municipal waste pollution of the oceans. One 
‘such development is the use of garbage for fuel to heat and cool build- 
ings. Sewage treatment facilities are also beg expanded and ad- 
vanced treatment methods initiated. Sewage sludge can also be used 
-directly as a fuel or converted to synthetic natural gas. The use of 
sewage as fertilizer for marine aquaculture has also been proposed.” 
Various solid debris have been used to construct artificial reeds for use 
as fish habitats. One technique for removing heavy metals from 
waste solutions is by precipitation as sulfides, insoluble sulfates or 
-carbonates. Concentrations of heavy metals can be reduced to a 
trace by these methods before the metals are discharged into the 
“marine environment. 
Other methods of prevention of ocean sell fom involve the dis- 
continuance of use of hazardous substances. For example, mercury 
-is no longer used as a slimicide in pulp and paper manufacture. The 
cuse of DDT is severely restricted in the United States in recognition 
“254 Los Angeles Times. April 28, 1974. p. 1 and 14. 
~ 55 Waldichuk, M. Coastal marine pollution and fish. Ocean Management, v. 2, March, 1974: 1-60. 
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