Research Log #6

Date: November 13, 2017

Name: Cal Kodama
EQ: How is ocean pollution affecting the health of this invaluable resource?

Three Points to Prove:

#1: Plastic affects the ocean.
#2: Oil pollution harms the ocean.
#3: Industrial pollution devistates ocean health.
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Point that this Source/Information Proves: #2: Oil pollution harms the ocean.

Excerpts (These should provide insight into the designated Point to Prove):

“The ocean doesn't just provide seafood. Ocean resources also wind up in toothpaste, ice cream, and
other products, notes Shannon.”

“"A lot of our freshwater comes from the ocean as rain," adds Shannon. Rain helps crops grow and
provides drinking water. But it can have a dark side, as when hurricanes cause flooding and blackouts
even in inland states, such as Ohio, Missouri, and New Mexico.”

“The ocean affects the air too. "Half the oxygen that we breathe comes from photosynthesis of algae in
the ocean," says Reddy. That sea air reaches from coast to coast. “

“All those reasons give us a stake in protecting the ocean. The United States and other countries are
trying to address some problems. Laws aim to limit pollution. Treaties try to curb overfishing. Current
laws and treaties may not reach far enough, though, and governments can't address everything. Also,
ocean acidification and some other effects can't quickly be reversed. That makes it even more important
for all of us to take action.”

Analysis (How does this source support the Point to Prove?):

This news article goes into great detail on many topics about ocean pollution. The author mentions how
catastrophes, like oil spills, can harm much more than just the ocean. The oil spill affected fishing areas,
created a shortage of seafood, the petroleum chemicals that were in the oil conjured breathing hazards.
Due to these hazardous conditions, the overall affected area was altered drastically.

This article also makes it clear that what “we do to the ocean is our problem; we have to deal with it”.
Everything that is bad in the ocean, humans are the cause of; thus humanity has to make up for the wrong
committed, by cleaning up and staying clean. If the ocean remains on the same path, the chances of
humans consuming seafood slowly but surely decreases due to chemicals that will be within the fish and
other sea animals that humans consume. The ocean is being dramatically overfished. About 1 billion
people on earth rely on sea creatures for their main source of protein. The World Wildlife Fund says that
by 2048, all current food fish stocks could collapse

There are many medicines and natural curing contents from the ocean that have to be protected. Coral
reefs, kelp forests and deep sea hydrothermal vents could potentially be sources for new upcoming
medicines. Different types of marine organisms can help scientists understand certain diseases and
illnesses.

Work Cited (correct MLA format):

Kowalski, Kathiann M. "Oceans of Trouble." Current Health Teens, vol. 37, no. 2, Oct. 2010, p. 16.
EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=54016524&site=ehost-live.

I am assuming that these are reputable and reliable articles because the author has written 25 books
and about 600 articles on social policy, science, history and other subjects. She is in several groups that
focus on many cultures, foreign policy, and social issues. Kathiann M. Kowalski studied political
science at Hofstra University and graduated from Harvard Law School. After studying law for 15
years, she began pursuing journalism.