The introduction carried out by man, to the marine environment, of substances or energy that cause harmful effects, risks to the human health, damage to the flora and the fauna, decreasing it rightful use. The introduction carried out by man, to the marine environment, of substances or energy that cause harmful effects, risks to the human health, damage to the flora and the fauna, decreasing it rightful use. Definition of marine pollution

Principal problems that cause the marine pollution Pollution by the port marine activity Pollution by the port marine activity Pollution caused by the erosion Pollution caused by the erosion Pollution because of the inappropriate fishing exploitation Pollution because of the inappropriate fishing exploitation Pollution caused by the modification of the coastal line Pollution caused by the modification of the coastal line Pollution caused by the pouring of wastewaters (urban and industrial) Pollution caused by the pouring of wastewaters (urban and industrial) Pollution caused by the pouring of the solid wastes (urban and industrial) Pollution caused by the pouring of the solid wastes (urban and industrial)

The sewage sludge composition depends on: Wastewaters characteristics (domestics and industrials) Wastewaters characteristics (domestics and industrials) Wastewaters treatment process Wastewaters treatment process Sludge treatment process (with or without digestion, drying beds, mechanic drying, etc.) Sludge treatment process (with or without digestion, drying beds, mechanic drying, etc.)

Sludge composition Organic matter content Organic matter content Nutritious content Nutritious content Inert content (sand, slime, clay) Inert content (sand, slime, clay) Pollutants concentration (heavy metals, PCBs) Pollutants concentration (heavy metals, PCBs) Microorganisms concentration Microorganisms concentration

Typical sludge composition SubstanceConcentration Organic matter65 – 75 % Dry soil Nitrogen4% Phosphorous3 – 4% Zinc1600 mg/kg ms Cupper700 Lead400 Nickel150 Cadmium15 Arsenic5 Mercury10

Waste loads coming from domestic sources of the Great Caribbean Region divided in Sub-regions (miles tons/year) PAC Technical Report No Sub-regionsCountriesBODTSSTNTC Oil and fat I. Mexico Gulf Mexico and United States of America115,7116,334,119,141,4 II. Western Caribbean Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua y Panama16,816,42,41,52,0 III. Northwest and central Caribbean Bahamas, Caiman Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Turks Islands and Caicos71,190,25,25,56,1 IV. Eastern Caribbean Anguilla, Antigua y Barbuda, Barbados, Virgins Britannic Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guadalupe, Martinique, Monserrat, San Martin, Sta. Lucia, San. Kitts and Nevis, San. Vicente and Grenadines and Virgins Islands of EE.UU.4,84,60,70,50,5 V. South Caribbean Colombia, Nederland Antilles, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela260,2228,786,433,519,0 VI. Atlantic Equatorial Northwest French Guyana, Guyana and Surinam----- TotalSub-regions468,6456,2128,860,169,0

Poured sludge to the sea Country Annual sludge production (per 1000 ton/year) % of poured sludge to the sea Poured sludge to the sea (ton/year) United Kingdom 1, ,100 Spain ,000 Ireland373512,950 Portugal2521,100

Problems associated to de current treatment systems Bad operation of the wastes treatment plants. Bad operation of the wastes treatment plants. Inadequate treatment and disposal of the sludge. Inadequate treatment and disposal of the sludge. Lack of the standards for sludge management. Lack of the standards for sludge management. Lack of technical expertise and research facilities for sewage management. Lack of technical expertise and research facilities for sewage management.

Sludge disposal With reutilization Fertilizer in the agriculture Fertilizer in the agriculture Compost production Compost production Lombricultura Lombricultura Recuperation of out lands Recuperation of out lands Soils filler use Soils filler use Energetic potential use Energetic potential use

Sludge disposal (Cont.) Without reutilization In the surroundings of the wastes treatment plants or stabilization ponds. In the surroundings of the wastes treatment plants or stabilization ponds. Landfills, when the sludge is previously dried. Landfills, when the sludge is previously dried. Directly to the sea. Directly to the sea.

Principal impacts caused by the sludge pouring to the sea Decreasing of the dissolved oxygen in the water due to the increment of the mineral salts content. Decreasing of the dissolved oxygen in the water due to the increment of the mineral salts content. Eutrophisation process due to a fertilizers overload because of the nutritious content. Eutrophisation process due to a fertilizers overload because of the nutritious content. Damage to the corals and other species due to the inert concentration. Damage to the corals and other species due to the inert concentration. Production of unpleasant odor and esthetic problems. Production of unpleasant odor and esthetic problems.

Principal impacts caused by the sludge pouring to the sea (Cont.) Affectation because of the heavy metals content, specially of the wastes coming from the industrial sector. Affectation because of the heavy metals content, specially of the wastes coming from the industrial sector. Existence of pathogen microorganisms affecting the biota. Existence of pathogen microorganisms affecting the biota. Affectation to the health of the personnel that carry out the sludge management (pathogens y emissions). Affectation to the health of the personnel that carry out the sludge management (pathogens y emissions).

Death Zone of the Mexico Gulf

Economic losses caused by the red tides in the fishing and aquiculture Source: Worlwatch Institute DatePlaceSpecies Losses (millions USD) 1972Japan Cola amarilla ~ Japan ~ Japan ~ Republic of Korea oyster4, Maine. EEUU muchas2, Great Britain, EEUU muchas Republic of Korea oyster> Long Island, EEUU escalopas2 1986Chile Red Salmon Japan Cola amarilla Norwegian y Sweden salmon5 1989Norwegian Salmon, trucha arcoiris 4, Puget Sound, EEUU salmon4, Washington State, EEUU oyster Republic of Korea Peces cultivados Texas, EEUU oyster Hong Kong Peces cultivados 32

END