Ocean Acidification: The Chemical Changing of Our World

by: Sydney Robinson

Ocean acidification will have one of the most damaging effects on marine life and human health, and it is not being addressed sufficiently.

Climate change is well known to be jeopardizing our planet's future. While states are collaborating to develop solutions that can be implemented in society, much of the media and government action ignores certain aspects of our changing ecosystem. One of these examples is ocean acidification. Many social and political campaigns are centered on 'save the turtles' and switching to electric vehicles, emphasizing that carbon dioxide pollution is warming the earth. What is not discussed is the fact that carbon dioxide pollution is currently having a devastating impact on the chemical balance of the ocean.

Ocean acidification is occurring all over the world, and many European countries are already seeing the effects on marine life and human health, alongside the overall effects of climate change.

Ocean acidity is typically supposed to be around a pH of 8.2, however, it decreased to 8.1 throughout the industrial era and has since decreased to around 8.07 today.This is caused by the influx of CO2 concentrations, resulting in a 30% spike in oceanic acidity. These changes in the chemical balance of the ocean are already showing effects today. Within the northern seas in Europe, the Norwegian and Greenland seas have experienced significant decreases in pH compared to the global average. To stress how impactful this change is, the decrease in pH has occurred 100 times faster than any change in acidity within the past 55 million years. This is unnatural and these statistical changes in pH will affect marine ecosystems, human health, and worsen the general effects of climate change within Europe.

Ocean acidification will have profound effects on various sectors of life, beginning with marine ecosystems and human life. With the increasing acidity in oceans, the primary effect of this will be on marine life with shells and skeletons, as it makes it increasingly harder for these marine animals to build calcium carbonate. As a result, these animals will have less protection from predators and disease, the coral reefs that various animals feed on will turn into rubble, and the natural physiology of marine animals will be disrupted. This will have a particularly negative impact on coral reefs, whose regeneration will take millions of years rather than hundreds of years. This will eventually have an impact on human health, fishing industries, and worldwide stability.

These chemical changes to the physiology of marine life will have significant impacts on humans' relationships with these animals. There are various ways that ocean acidification can damage human health. Firstly, as the pH of the ocean decreases, the likelihood of malnutrition and poisoning increases. Ocean acidification will alter how marine life evolves and may affect key growth periods. This has already been shown to have an effect on lipid and protein reduction in whelk species. These species are high in phytoplankton polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and omega-3 fatty acids, which are extremely beneficial to human health and have been shown to lower the risk of heart disease and create healthy blood circulation. Chemical pollution is another risk associated with ocean acidification, as are humans consuming contaminated fish, which is a primary protein source for many Europeans.

Secondly, an additional effect on human health is related to people’s vocational and recreational activities. The fishing sector is one of the biggest sectors in the world and provides various individuals with jobs and economic gains. As the pH of the ocean decreases, fisheries will struggle to bring in high-quality, uncontaminated fish, causing the fishing industry to suffer and many people to lose their jobs. Moreover, ocean-based recreational and exercise opportunities, such as swimming, snorkeling, fishing, and scuba diving will start disappearing. Limiting job opportunities or removing them, in addition to fewer opportunities for outdoor ocean-based recreation can cause emotional distress for many individuals. Economic instabilities can cause great stress for individuals, coupled with limited ability to participate in these activities, which can lead to declines in mental well-being. Finally, there will be a scarcity of medicines derived from marine life and ecosystems. The ocean is rich in diversity, which can aid in the development of medicines and natural products that benefit human health. This shift in the chemical balance of marine ecosystems and animals will limit scientists' ability to contribute to medicine and human development.

Overall, ocean acidification will have a significant influence on global climate change, especially within the continent of Europe. Conducted by researchers, there are nine planetary boundaries that, if crossed, could threaten human life, including ocean acidification, climate change, and ozone depletion. As a result of the anthropogenic influences thus far, the world has already passed almost five of the planetary boundaries, with ocean acidification being the latest. Ocean acidification thresholds are already being crossed at regional levels, and many organisms are already reaching their tipping points. Ocean acidification in combination with these other planetary boundaries will have significant impacts on the world.

Climate change is not something that is under the radar. It is constantly discussed in the twenty-first century, but topics such as ocean acidification do not receive enough attention. Given the potential and ongoing impacts on marine life, human health, and global economies it should be a more prominent topic of discussion. The longer we wait for adequate intervention methods, the worse the consequences will be. There are already signs of marine life destruction and repercussions for human activity, which will only worsen over time especially if global attention is not focused on it.

Europe is not the only place affected by the increasing acidity in the ocean. Japan and Australia are extremely affected by ocean acidification. Australia is known for its coral reefs, which are one of its biggest tourist attractions. Marine life is a key aspect of Australian nature, and increasing ocean acidification will have profound impacts on marine animals. However, this will continue to fade away due to ocean acidification. Japan has a large fishing industry and seafood serves as the primary protein source for many individuals. Seafood like oysters, scallops, urchins, shrimps, and crabs are all at risk of chemical contamination and pollution from ocean acidification, which will have associated devastating consequences for Japan's fishing sector and economy. Currently, these three areas of the world are most vulnerable to ocean acidification, however, this number will only increase; particularly in states residing at higher latitudes.

The risks associated with rising ocean acidification must be acknowledged. The chemical changes in the ocean are already having a significant impact around the world, and many people are unaware of this. The effects of ocean acidification need to transform into a widely known issue that no longer swims under the radar.