Water Pollution: Oceans and Great Lakes

Abstract

Environmental and human health problems associated with aquaculture are discussed. Water courses are conduits for pollutants to reach the oceans. This is illustrated using the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico as an example. Point sources of pollution are discussed and the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico receives extensive coverage. Chemical and biological pollution of the Great Lakes are continuing problems. Sources of pollution and their impact on the environment and on human health are discussed.

Keywords: Aquaculture, overfishing, threatened species, bacterial pollution, chemical pollution, escapees, gulf dead zone, pH effects, salinity effects, genetically modified salmon, coastal habitats, gulf oil spill, exxon valdez, dispersant toxicity, great Lakes pollution (biological, chemical), invasive species, human health.