Dead Zones: Causes and Effects
Dead zones are areas that can no longer sustain life. Usually referring to oceanic dead zones, the term could just as well apply to agricultural dead zones. The dead zones that impact the food supplies in North America include the Gulf of Mexico’s dead zone, which is the largest ever measured (NOAA, 2017). The causes of dead zones include pollutants like nitrogen and phosphorous from industrial development, sewage, and agriculture itself. Pollutants make their way into the ocean through rivers and other aquatic feeders. The Mississippi River is primarily responsible for feeding the Gulf of Mexico as it has accumulated nitrogen and phosphorus from all points upriver (“The Floods' Lingering Effects: New Study Shows Gulf "Dead Zone,” 2017). Agricultural waste and nutrient pollution lead to the rapid growth of algae, which in turn consumes the oxygen in the water. As the algae proliferate, it consumes so much oxygen that other species cannot survive in the surrounding waters and results in the dead zone.
The Gulf of Mexico has been a reliable source of seafood products like shrimp, and the dead zone seriously threatens food safety and security. Tourism is also affected, with detrimental effects on the American economy. According to the nature Conservancy, the dead zone costs more than $82 million per year in lost revenues (“The Floods' Lingering Effects: New Study Shows Gulf...
References
“The Floods' Lingering Effects: New Study Shows Gulf "Dead Zone" One of the Largest on Record,” (2017). Nature Conservancy. Retrieved online: https://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/areas/gulfofmexico/explore/gulf-of-mexico-dead-zone.xml
Nichols, H. (2017). The top 10 leading causes of death in the United States. Medical News Today. Retrieved online: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/282929.php
NOAA (2017). Gulf of Mexico ‘dead zone’ is the largest ever measured. NOAA. Retrieved online: http://www.noaa.gov/media-release/gulf-of-mexico-dead-zone-is-largest-ever-measured
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