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PART II. OCEAN POLLUTION USA - The Broad Picture 
A. Introduction 
Ocean palit ian is the unfavorable alteration of the marine 
environment, wholly or largely as a by-product of man's actions, 
through direct or indirect effects of changes in energy patterns, . 
radiation levels, chemical and physical constitution, and distri- 
bution, abundance, and quality of organisms. These changes may 
affect man directly or indirectly through his supplies of food 
and other products, his physical objects or possessions, and his 
opportunities for recreation and appreciation of nature. 
The ultimate goal must be to allow into the oceans only that 
which can contribute to improving the ocean environment, such as 
recycling nutrients to deliberately increase productivity, or that 
which will not result in any unacceptable alteration of the envi- 
ronment. Too much nutrient-rich material can, as in the case of 
the New York Bight, be severely damaging. On the other hand, some 
materials can, with adequate treatment or precaution be disposed 
of at sea safely. 
In the broader aspects of ocean pollution, two additional major 
sources of contamination, not discussed in Part I, loom as potenti- 
ally significant contributors. 
Radiation pollution, except near nuclear bomb sites, has not 
yet been of sufficient magnitude to warrant concern. However, 
because of expanding uses in industry and for power, the potential 
effects of radiation wastes need to be explored. 
Contaminants from the atmosphere are another potentially ser- 
ious source of ocean pollution. It has been estimated that over 
200 million tons of smoke and fumes fall to the earth annually-- 
much of it enters the ocean directly, or indirectly through runoff 
and river discharge. This material contains lead, cyanide, and 
other toxic biologically active materials. The extent to which 
atmospheric pollution may deleteriously affect the marine envi- 
ronment is not known, but the quantity of at least some atmos- 
pheric pollutants can be compared to that which may enter the sea 
8/ Adapted from definition of pollution developed in Report of the 
Environmental Pollution Panel - "Restoring the Quality of our 
Environment" 1965. 
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