How Does Toxic Algae Blooms Affect The Environment
Nathaniel Manor
Ms. Jones
Physical Science Honors
28 May 2014
Sentinels Under Attack Toxic algae blooms have infected many bodies of waters throughout the world and has greatly affected animals, humans, the environment, and even our economy. Toxic algae blooms can be detrimental to the environment and can singlehandedly turn a once healthy ecosystem into an inhabitable ‘dead zone’. Many marine mammals have been dying rapidly due to these toxic algae that poison the brain and lead to death that travels up through the food chain and eventually to us humans. The sentinels of our oceans have been affected by toxic algae blooms enormously. Marine mammals act as our signals as to what is occurring in our oceans. The fact that they are dying rapidly is not a good sign. Many marine mammals have been dying rapidly due to toxic algae that poison their brains and leads to death that travels up through the food chain and eventually to us humans (Weiss). …show more content…
A major cause is nutrient pollution, the result of poor farming practices that include the use of fertilizers and pesticides, as well as the use of household cleaning products. The materials seep through the soil, into the groundwater, and ends up in our oceans and bodies of water due to runoff. Runoff from towns and cities near waterways pick up the chemicals in the ground and lead them to our bodies of water, causing toxic algae blooms to flourish. Horticulturist, Alex Barth explains, “…when it rains a lot, all your fertilizers that you put down on your lawns, on plants, will leach in the ground water or will leach into surrounding bodies of water which will bring up nitrogen and phosphorous levels which algae blooms love and fish and aquatic organisms cant take,” (“Suncoast Fertilizer”
Ms. Jones
Physical Science Honors
28 May 2014
Sentinels Under Attack Toxic algae blooms have infected many bodies of waters throughout the world and has greatly affected animals, humans, the environment, and even our economy. Toxic algae blooms can be detrimental to the environment and can singlehandedly turn a once healthy ecosystem into an inhabitable ‘dead zone’. Many marine mammals have been dying rapidly due to these toxic algae that poison the brain and lead to death that travels up through the food chain and eventually to us humans. The sentinels of our oceans have been affected by toxic algae blooms enormously. Marine mammals act as our signals as to what is occurring in our oceans. The fact that they are dying rapidly is not a good sign. Many marine mammals have been dying rapidly due to toxic algae that poison their brains and leads to death that travels up through the food chain and eventually to us humans (Weiss). …show more content…
A major cause is nutrient pollution, the result of poor farming practices that include the use of fertilizers and pesticides, as well as the use of household cleaning products. The materials seep through the soil, into the groundwater, and ends up in our oceans and bodies of water due to runoff. Runoff from towns and cities near waterways pick up the chemicals in the ground and lead them to our bodies of water, causing toxic algae blooms to flourish. Horticulturist, Alex Barth explains, “…when it rains a lot, all your fertilizers that you put down on your lawns, on plants, will leach in the ground water or will leach into surrounding bodies of water which will bring up nitrogen and phosphorous levels which algae blooms love and fish and aquatic organisms cant take,” (“Suncoast Fertilizer”