Aquatic Pollution and Coastal Management

Unit 1 : Classification of aquatic pollution

1.2.What is Pollution?

Pollution is defined as an undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of the environment, which can harmfully affect the health, survival or activities of humans or other living organisms.

Environmental pollution is an emerging threat and of great concern in today's context pertaining to its effect on the ecosystem. The technological developments in agriculture, industries and related fields have resulted in unlimited exploitation of natural resources disturbing the delicate ecological balance between the living and nonliving components of the biosphere.

Why Pollution is Hard to Measure?

• Natural levels of most contaminants are unknown
• Pollutant effects can be complex and take a long time to develop
• Pollutants enter into aquatic environment through a great variety of mechanisms
• The number of compounds that humans introduce into the ocean is so enormous, it will be difficult to track.