Toxins Threaten Marine Life

It’s bikini season again and that means time to hit the beach. But watch out! This summer there’s more to worry about besides the harmful sun rays, how much weight to lose and who’s driving. Deciding which beach you head out to may be at the top of your list. Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board sent violations to 20 cities, warning them to stop polluting the Santa Monica Bay. These cities are responsible for extremely high bacterial limits of our local beaches. High bacterial levels and pollutants in our oceans is not only disgusting, it’s also harmful to the animals that call the ocean their home.

In September 2007, three blue whales washed on shore within two weeks. One of the whales had broken bones when found, which may have been caused by a ship motor. But what about the other two whales? Environmental issues such as dumping and accidental spills of toxins may be to blame. Marine pollution may be a major cause in the death of many marine mammals.

Marine pollution comes in many forms: oil spills, heavy metals, discarded waste or boat activity. About four months ago 58,000 gallons of fuel was accidentally spilled along the San Francisco coast. Hundreds of birds died and the clean up was outrageous. Although this spill was accidental, the effects of this one activity cost sea–side birds to lose their lives.

Much more than oil spills occur every day. Take a walk along the beach and you’d find tons of trash: empty wrappers, discarded kites, soda cans and my pet peeve—the plastic bag.

Let’s get back to those blue whales. According to American Cetacean Society, the blue whale outlived the deadly harpooning trend from the 1860s to the 1930s resulting in a 99 percent decrease of their population. Could we be the cause in another reduction of whales? Industrial pollutants, sewage from boats and the disturbance of large cruise ships have delayed the blue whales’ effort to rebuild its population. One issue is if the water is contaminated, than its food supply is contaminated as well. After eating up to 40 million krill a day a whale may become sick with its food’s illness. And it doesn’t stop there. If you like sea-side fishing, you might be eating the same contaminants as that whale.

The Pulitzer Prize winning series “Altered Oceans” by the Los Angeles Times documented the immediate effects of trash and pollution among sea life. Neuschwander, a sea lion displaying unusual behavior is a victim of domoic acid poisoning. “Domoic acid poisoning, (is) a condition that scrambles the brains of marine mammals and causes them to wash ashore in California as predictably as the spring tides.” These pollutants cause the sea lions to have reactions similar to seizures and be easily confused. Dominic acid is a neurotoxin that affects the sea lion’s neurons. “They pick up the acid by eating anchovies and sardines that have fed on toxic algae.”

More and more sea lions are showing up along California’s beaches in the same condition as Neuschwander: confused and convulsing. Those cute sea lions can’t fend for themselves anymore because people and cities are too lazy to properly dispose of their trash. A ton of other problems have been linked to pollution of California waters. Some possible illnesses as a result of long-term exposure to toxins include viral epidemics, influenza, and moribilliviruses in marine animals, especially those who were exposed to toxins such as PCB (Polychlorinated Biphenyls).

Blue whales are still turning up dead on Southern California beaches for no obvious cause. While it may not have been contaminated krill that killed the three whales that were beached in September, a number of environmental issues throughout North America have affected other types of whales. According to an article published in Maine Today, “Study: Right whales face pollution threat,” the University of Southern Maine found that right whales are contaminated with the industrial pollutant chromium which may be the cause of their delayed reproduction. The toxin chromium comes from “metal–finishing, leather tanning and textile-dyeing.” This study and many others are proving that industrial pollutants, that no one stops to think about, are having a major affect on marine mammals.

Canada is facing a similar problem with killer whales. The Web site www.canada.com reports that PCBs are a major problem affecting their aquatic life. In an article “Whales continue to suffer from banned toxins,” it is reported that toxic chemicals banned during the 1970s will interfere with the reproductive success of B.C.'s northern and southern resident killer whales until at least 2030, a newly published study says.” The study was conducted by Trent University in Vancouver. This brings up another important topic: if toxins don’t directly kill this generation, it will have a lasting affect on the next generation. Reproductive problems are common among marine mammals that have tested to contain environmental toxins in their bodies. The report also notes that “First born calves receive the highest dose of all.” These results are alarming.

Animals and people, can also contract illnesses from the hazardous ocean. The chemicals allow for marine mammals to become more susceptible to illness, have a weakened immune system and overall physical problems. This is what causes the deaths of whales. If not the noxious waste itself, it decreases their chance for survival. This is not only a problem in whales, but in dolphins and other marine mammals. Marine pollution problems are not only visible in California, but across the globe.

Industrial pollutants in the water may also alter the reproduction process of this generation of mammals and the next. The reproduction issues associated with these toxins are hermaphorditism, sterility and hormonal disturbance. Another issue is the abnormal growth of testis and testis tissue, uterine smooth muscle cell tumors, exostosis and osteoporosis in mammal skulls are issues some mammals face because of industrial pollutants filling the water.

In “Endangered Oceans,” author Kira Schmidt argues that cruise ships are huge polluters, often dumping pesticides and waste into the ocean. “Graywater…often contains contaminants such as detergents, cleaners, oil, grease, metals and pesticides—can legally be dumped anywhere, even thought the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that Graywater has the potential to cause adverse effects.” This human interference of the water is disturbing. Even if this sewage has no proven negative effects on these marine mammals, it is unhealthy for the water and people like me that love to spend time in the water.

While some may not consider the death of blue whales a problem personally, these deaths are a sure sign that something is wrong with the water. We all need to be aware that the illnesses contracted from whales can easily translate into illnesses contracted by humans. Be aware of the bacterial levels before you go swimming, you may want to head to the pool instead.

For more information about bacterial limit violations, visit www.healthebay.org. For more information about pollution and our oceans, visit www.latimes.com. “Altered Oceans” can easily be viewed.