La contaminación del mar y la degradación del litoral constituyen una realidad que debemos afrontar y ante la cual España es un país al que el problema afecta directísimamente por la longitud de sus costas, por la importancia de su actividad pesquera y por el turismo de sol y playa que recibe anualmente. Era totalmente necesario disponer de una amplia publicación en la que se indica lo que es el mar, sus biocenosis y lo que supone para el hombre en lo que se refiere al transporte, a la extracción de hidrocarburos y a la pesca, entre otros valores, al se4r una de nuestras principales fuentes de recursos. Este libro, después de explicar lo que es el mar, indica las agresiones humanas que sufre y detalla las soluciones para cada problema. Finalmente se desarrollo una visión global prospectiva para los próximos 50 años, a la vista de lo que ha ocurrido en los últimos 20 años con los ecosistemas marinos. Hemos de señalar que en esta obra se incluyen los grandes accidentes y catástrofes de contaminación del mar provocados por la acción humana.

Marine pollution occurs today in varied forms--chemical, industrial, and agricultural-and the sources of pollution are endless. In recent history, we've seen oil spills, untreated sewage, eutrophication, invasive species, heavy metals, acidification, radioactive substances, marine litter, and overfishing, among other significant problems. Though marine pollution has long been a topic of concern, it has very recently exploded in environmental, economic, and political debate circles; scientists and non-scientists alike continue to be shocked and dismayed at the sheer diversity of water pollutants and the many ways they can come to harm our environment and our bodies. In Marine Pollution: What Everyone Needs to Know, Judith Weis covers marine pollution from numerous angles, each fascinating in its own right. Beginning with its sources and history, she discusses common pollutants, why they are harmful, why they cause controversy, and how we can prevent them from destroying our aquatic ecosystems. Questions ask what actually happened with the Exxon Valdez, and why harmful algal blooms are a serious concern. Covering pollutants that are only now surfacing as major threats, such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and metal nanoparticles, she explains how these can begin in the water and progress up the food chain to emerge in human bodies. Looking at the effects of climate change and acidification on marine pollution levels, we learn how we can begin to reduce pollution at the local and global levels.