Marine Pollution

Oil spills, radioactive waste disposal, ocean dumping, and coastal reclamation and engineering, among other factors, contribute to the destruction of the marine environment, a process which evokes intense emotional debate among those involved. In this second edition, Clark dispassionately explores for both specialists and non-specialists in marine science the scientific aspects of marine pollution. Fully updated to reflect new perspectives on this ecological threat, this book describes the main marine pollutants, their effects on marine ecosystems, and their impacts on commercial fisheries and human health. Clark also provides case histories of pollution on particular geographical areas--the Baltic, Mediterranean, Caspian, Caribbean, and North Seas--and discusses the assessment of pollution damage and the place of science in such assessments.