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Report on the Health of the World's Oceans (4) - Page 2

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Toxic wastes cannot only kill many fish and ocean creatures, but can render the survivors infertile. Croaker across the Gulf of Mexico, have shown lack of sexual development, and inability to reproduce (16). Predatory fish, birds, and mammals that feed on fish have suffered from contaminated fish as well. Cormorants and eagles are showing birth defects, such as crossed bills, fish and herring gulls are showing super-enlarged thyroid glands, seals are reproducing at reduced rates, and seal pups are not surviving as well (16). Humans are not immune from the effects, showing significantly reduced sperm counts resulting from pollution (16). An interesting study by Danish researchers on the chemical effects on humans, found that organic farmers who use no chemicals on their crops had 50 percent higher sperm counts than men in downtown Copenhagen (16).

The culprits causing reduced reproduction seem to be chemical contaminants associated with refineries, DDT and other organochlorine chemicals (16). Even low-level exposure may cause hormonal damage to wildlife including sexual development and reproduction, insulin production, growth, stress response, and metabolism (16).

Toxins accumulate in the bodies of fish and other wildlife, with larger predatory species often being the greatest affected. Larger fish that are eating primarily contaminated smaller fish build up greater amounts of the chemicals in their bodies. Humans, seals, whales and others that feed on these larger predatory fish, may be at an even greater risk. Since toxins most often accumulate in the fat of animals, indigenous people whose diets consist of large amounts of seal and whale blubber are in the greatest danger.

Pollution from land-based sources is widespread, and affects primarily the coasts of industrialized nations. There are some solutions available to curb the introduction of pollutants into our streams, rivers, and ultimately the oceans. Mark Schleifstein, in a 1997 news article makes some excellent suggestions:

"--Creating a buffer of grass between fields and streams that will filter much of the nutrients before they reach the water. --Using farming methods that rely less on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, either through no-till farming or with new satellite-based computerized crop systems that measure the need for fertilizer more accurately. --Building wetlands at strategic locations along the paths of agricultural runoff ditches to capture and treat the fertilizer runoff. --Creating similar wetlands to treat sewage-tainted water washing from suburbs and cities. --Improving enforcement of sanitary codes to force the replacement of inadequate septic tanks and sewage systems in urban and suburban areas. --Forcing replacement of inadequate sewage-treatment ponds and drainage fields at pig, chicken, cattle, and dairy farms." (17)

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