The Spread of Ocean Dead Zones
Ocean dead zones are areas near populated coastlines which suffer from extremely low oxygen levels (hypoxia). Sever pollution from chemical runoff such as fertilizers is the number one cause of dead zones around the world.
A global study led by Professor Robert Diaz of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, shows that the number of "dead zones"—areas of seafloor with too little oxygen for most marine life—has increased by a third between 1995 and 2007.Diaz and collaborator Rutger Rosenberg of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden say that dead zones are now "the key stressor on marine ecosystems" and "rank with over-fishing, habitat loss, and harmful algal blooms as global environmental problems"
It is believed that there are over 450 dead zones around the world. The largest dead zone in the U.S., located south of the Mississippi River, is the size of the state of New Jersey.
We can all contribute to helping these dead zones by using biodegradable items in our daily lives from soap to fabric softeners, which eventually end up in the ocean and contribute to the problem.
