fish toxic for consumption and create more lead in the food chain. In animals, lead causes delayed development of offspring, nervous system disorders, and learning disabilities. Mercury is very toxic, even in low concentrations. It disrupts the central nervous system functions in animals. Mercury is extremely dangerous because mixed with other pollutants, the toxicity can be very deadly. Cadmium becomes toxic to sea animals by eventually replacing the calcium, thus making bones fragile and easily broken. Oil as ocean pollution has been a major concern for decades. When an oil tanker explodes the oil that pours out into the water creates highly concentrated ?toxic pockets?(Whitham 100). Since oil is lighter than water it generally floats on top of the surface. The oil soaks up oxygen, blocks sunlight, and smothers plankton. Oil destroys the natural water resistance of sea bird feathers causing them to be unable to fly and drown. Marine animals swallow the oil causing intestinal problems and liver failure. Oil contamination in the ocean creates a long cycle of destruction, it clogs the gills of fish, taints shellfish, destroys natural corral reefs, and kills marine larva (Whitham 100).The ocean is also polluted by radioactive materials. Once radioactive wastes enter an ocean they can not be removed or cleaned up, but are diluted into the large body of water. The plants and animals in the ocean develop a concentration of the radioactive material within them. This concentration can be harmless to some animals, but be lethal to the plant or animals predators. Animals contaminated by radiation that survive pass radionucleides in greater concentration along the food chain. Humans are the most effected by radiation, therefore; when nuclear waste is entered into the ocean humans are greatly effected due to rainfall and the food chain.(Seymour 22).Pollution of the earth?s oceans has become a real problem. There are six major po...
