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Marine Dead Zones

DEAD ZONES ARE NOT FOUND AT ROCK CONCERTS OR CEMETERIES.  THEY ARE AREAS OF LOW OXYGEN IN OUR OCEANS THAT THREATEN MARINE LIFE AND HABITAT. LEARN MORE ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

MARINE DEAD ZONES ARE CAUSED BY NITROGEN POLLUTION FROM FERTILIZERS AND RAW SEWAGE.  THIS POLLUTION FUELS THE GROWTH OF MASSIVE BLOOMS OF ALGAE THAT DEPLETE THE WATER OF OXYGEN, CAUSING A DIE-OFF OF FISH, VEGETATION, AND BOTTOM DWELLERS SUCH AS CLAMS, LOBSTERS, AND SHRIMP.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE STILL A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES WITHOUT NATIONAL SEWAGE TREATMENT STANDARDS, SO MANY CITIES, EVEN SOME IN NORTH AMERICA, DUMP BILLIONS OF LITERS OF RAW SEWAGE INTO THE OCEAN EACH YEAR.

WHILE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS DO HELP PREVENT MARINE DEAD ZONES, THE PRESERVATION OF NATURAL SYSTEMS SUCH AS MARSHES, MANGROVES, AND COASTAL WETLANDS IS ALSO PART OF THE SOLUTION.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM.

Read more in NewScientist.

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