We’re proud to be Big Blue Ocean Cleanup’s™ official partner and be able to provide you accurate information about our beloved Ocean and turn words into action regarding its protection.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
Helen Keller, a former American political activist, and author.
On this page, you’ll learn how chemical cleaning products are having a huge negative impact on the Ocean. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) names phosphorus, nitrogen, ammonia, and chemicals grouped under the term “Volatile Organic Compounds” (VOC’s) as the worst environmental hazards in household cleaners.
These household cleaning chemicals are not removed by waste treatment processes. Instead, they enter the waterways, and act as fertilizers, causing an accelerated growth of some types of algae.
After reading this article, you’ll have enough information on the nefast impact chemical cleaning products have on the environment. Then, it’s up to you…
What is Ocean chemical pollution?
Chemical pollution is the contamination of the marine environment with harmful, artificial, or anthropogenic pollutants. The most common of these can be grouped into fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, detergents and other household products, industrial chemicals, and sewage.
These pollutants introduce excessive nutrients, toxins, poisons and metals into marine ecosystems as well as instigating chemical bioaccumulation through the marine food web (the higher up the food chain an animal is, the more chemical contaminant it consumes through its food, this is a term referred to as “bioaccumulation” or “biomagnification”).There are also many other consequential implications of chemical pollutants in the ocean and these are dependent upon a huge variety of factors such as chemical type, geographical location, local ecosystem composition, season, waves and currents.
WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
The most common process of ocean contamination by chemicals is through river and estuary systems. Rainwater, flooding and stormwater transport any products on land into nearby streams, rivers and estuaries. River systems then transfer these products into the ocean. Urban areas and agricultural activities are responsible for much of the industrial, commercial and even recreational pollutants that end up in the ocean through sewage leaks and ineffective water treatment. Pharmaceutical, health and body care products are an example of recreational pollutants that end up in our oceans through unsuccessful water treatment works.
WHAT HAPPENS TO IT?
The transportation, distribution, and consequential impact on marine ecosystems are dependent upon the individual pollutant. This includes: how persistent they are (how long they exist in the environment before degrading); and how water-soluble they are (more soluble pollutants dissolve more easily within the seawater and therefore are transported further offshore than those less soluble).
Many chemicals become absorbed into sediments as they are transported through water systems and some of the most chemically contaminated sediments are found in estuaries, coastal wetlands, or marshes near urban areas or densely agricultural land.
HOW IS IT HARMFUL?
The initial ecological responses to fertilizer and nutrient input seem beneficial however it is the knock-on effects and longer-term impacts that shift from seemingly beneficial to entirely detrimental on a marine ecosystem.
CAN IT BE STOPPED?
Fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, household and beauty products demonstrate just a few ways anthropogenic products are making their way into our oceans. Because we don’t know the full extent of the ecological threat they pose, especially with regards to household and beauty products, further scientific research is vital to gain an understanding of how our day-to-day life may be chemically polluting our water systems and oceans.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE?
Many household products and beauty products have now been developed to be more eco-friendly by using natural ingredients. These products include washing detergent, dishwashing, and cleaning products as well as numerous face, body, hair care, and beauty products. Various sun creams have also been developed to be more ecologically safe to marine environments and have a “reef safe” label somewhere on their packaging. All of these products are becoming increasingly easy to get hold of and pitched at more affordable prices to encourage people to choose more environmentally friendly options.
You can start acting now!
Ozean products are 100% biodegradable, and they turn into saltwater again after being used. This poses absolutely no risk to the environment, and by choosing us, you’ll be not only protecting our Ocean but also yourself from those harmful chemicals.
The ocean always took care of you.
Are you willing to return the favor?
