1998 Year of the Ocean Perspectives on Marine Environmental Quality 



pathogen contamination continues to decrease as a number of metropolitan areas upgrade their 

 sewer systems and separate their storm drains and sewer systems. 



Chemical Contamination 



Since 1 940, more than 70,000 synthetic chemicals have been introduced into the marine 

 environment, impacting areas such as the Mobile Delta, where excessive levels of mercury in 

 fmfish resulted in the closing of some fishing areas from 1 970-72 and again in the early 1 990s 

 (U.S. EPA, 1997). Efforts to reduce chemical loadings to marine waters have had some success. 

 Away from the influence of urban sources, offshore monitoring of toxic chemicals has shown a 

 decline in the concentrations of chemicals which have been banned from use in the United States 

 (NOAA, 1997). Meanwhile, reported releases of toxic chemicals to surface waters of the United 

 States decreased by 4.1 million pounds (a decrease of more than 10 percent) from 1994 to 1995 

 (U.S. EPA, 1997b).^" The decrease in toxic chemicals released to surface waters is a reflection of 

 real changes in industry practices such as source reduction,'^ installation of pollution control 

 equipment, increased recycling and reuse of waste as raw materials, production changes, and a 

 reduction in the number of one-time events (e.g., spills). 



Over the last decade, chemical contamination of aquatic sediments has been recognized 

 as a serious problem in some U.S. coastal waters. In Puget Sound, hot spots of toxic chemicals 

 have been shown to alter and reduce the bottom-dwelling community, to interfere with cellular 

 and physiological processes, and to cause disease in fish. Most hot spots are in areas of high 

 vessel traffic, industrial activities, or poor flushing and are often located near urban centers 

 (NOAA, 1994). Other adverse economic impacts of contaminated sediments include delaying or 

 raising the cost of maintenance dredging of navigational waterways due to the potential dangers 

 of resuspending toxic chemicals into the water column or the need to find disposal sites for the 

 sediments. 



Oil Contamination 



In 1996, approximately 4,200 oil spills occurred in coastal areas and in the open ocean. 

 Spill sources range from minor marina activities to one-time releases from tankers (U.S. DOT), 

 with major tanker spills accounting for only 5 percent of the volume of oil spills. Fixed facilities 

 and offshore exploration and production platforms contribute 15 million gallons of oil pollution 

 to the world's ocean bodies annually. By contrast, 363 million gallons of oil per year reaches the 

 ocean in runoff from land and municipal and industrial wastes. In fact, the yearly road runoff 

 from a city of 5 million could contain as much oil as one large tanker spill (Ocean Planet, 1995). 

 Natural oil seeps discharge 62 million gallons of oil into marine waters armually. Effects on 

 organisms from oil spills can be acute, such as fish kills fi^om initial contact with the toxic 



22 This information is from Table 5-1 in the 1997 Toxic Release Inventory. It has been corrected for additions and subtractions 

 of chemicals to the list and for changes in the number of industries monitored, but does not include ammonia, hydrochloric acid, 

 or sulfuric acid. 



23 This includes such actions as elimination of spills and leaks during normal operations, process changes, and chemical 

 substitutions. 



E-13 



