Strategies and Approaches to Marine Pollution Research

Abstract

It is well documented that the marine environment is contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons, synthetic organics and toxic metals. Many workers have reported the presence of chlorinated hydrocarbons and other anthropogenic organics in most of the larger bodies of waters including the remote ocean regions (e.g., Giam et al., 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980; Atlas and Giam, 1981; Tanabe et al., 1983a) and in marine organisms from around the world (Giam et al., 1978 a, b; Tanabe et al., 1983b, Ballschmiter and Zell, 1980). Many of the earlier problems associated with analyses have been overcome (e.g. Giam et al., 1972, 1976c, 1977a). However, despite the large number of measurements, the difficult task of understanding the rates and processes controlling the transport, fate, and effects of pollutant compounds has progressed only very slowly. Research programs aimed at understanding these aspects of marine pollution are actively pursued.

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