conclusions do not fit with political intentions of people who want to demonstrate
how miserably our present way of life is organized. And I do not agree with those
who react against any waste disposal in the sea, even of relatively harmless wastes, and
accept instead risks of economic damage and ecological problems on land. Certainly
I am not free from intentions of my own, how could I when writing a book on marine
pollution? I have tried to present the scientific evidence in a way that can be checked
and criticized.
1.2 The Definition of Pollution
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IDC) describes marine pollution
precisely: "Marine pollution is the introduction by man, directly or indirectly, of
substances or energy into the marine environment (including estuaries), resulting in
such deleterious effects as: harm to living resources; hazards to human health; hindrance to marine activities including fishing; impairing the quality for use of seawater
and reduction of amenities".
1.3 Units of Measurement and Seawater Composition
Indications of concentration are obviously those which relate the amount of a harmful substance to the amount of a substance under analysis. Since 1 I of ocean water
with 350/00 salt content weighs approximately 1.028 kg, it does not make much difference in a rough calculation whether the concentrations refer to liters or kilograms.
On the other hand, the differences are large if wet weight, dry weight, extractable fat
(lipid), or carbon are selected as a basis for measurements. Fish, mussels, and crabs
contain 750/0-80% water. The figure for concentration by wet weight must be multiplied by 4 or 5 to derive concentration by dry weight. If the fat content of an organism amounts to 1 0%, the figure for concentration to wet weight must be multiplied
by 10 to attain those concentrations in relation to extractable fat. However, the
water and fat content of organisms and tissues varies widely. One must, therefore, be
very careful in the application of rough measurements.
An additional element that contributes to the confusion is that concentrations are
often labeled "ppm", "ppb", or "ppt":
ppm (parts per million, 10 6 ) means #J,g/g or mg/kg as well as about mg/l
ppb
(parts per billion, American use, 10 9 ) means ng/g or #J,g/kg, as well as about
#J,g/l or mg/m 3
ppt
(parts per trillion, American use, 10 12 ) means pg/g or ng/kg or #J,g/t, as well as
about ng/l or #J,g/m 3 .
If plant nutrient elements are involved, marine biologist and marine chemist often
indicate concentrations in #J,g-at/l or, the more modern term, in #J,mol/l. To come to
this figure, the weight in #J,g/l is divided by the atomic weight of the element or compound in question.
Table 2 summarizes analysis of the elementary composition of seawater.
4
how miserably our present way of life is organized. And I do not agree with those
who react against any waste disposal in the sea, even of relatively harmless wastes, and
accept instead risks of economic damage and ecological problems on land. Certainly
I am not free from intentions of my own, how could I when writing a book on marine
pollution? I have tried to present the scientific evidence in a way that can be checked
and criticized.
1.2 The Definition of Pollution
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IDC) describes marine pollution
precisely: "Marine pollution is the introduction by man, directly or indirectly, of
substances or energy into the marine environment (including estuaries), resulting in
such deleterious effects as: harm to living resources; hazards to human health; hindrance to marine activities including fishing; impairing the quality for use of seawater
and reduction of amenities".
1.3 Units of Measurement and Seawater Composition
Indications of concentration are obviously those which relate the amount of a harmful substance to the amount of a substance under analysis. Since 1 I of ocean water
with 350/00 salt content weighs approximately 1.028 kg, it does not make much difference in a rough calculation whether the concentrations refer to liters or kilograms.
On the other hand, the differences are large if wet weight, dry weight, extractable fat
(lipid), or carbon are selected as a basis for measurements. Fish, mussels, and crabs
contain 750/0-80% water. The figure for concentration by wet weight must be multiplied by 4 or 5 to derive concentration by dry weight. If the fat content of an organism amounts to 1 0%, the figure for concentration to wet weight must be multiplied
by 10 to attain those concentrations in relation to extractable fat. However, the
water and fat content of organisms and tissues varies widely. One must, therefore, be
very careful in the application of rough measurements.
An additional element that contributes to the confusion is that concentrations are
often labeled "ppm", "ppb", or "ppt":
ppm (parts per million, 10 6 ) means #J,g/g or mg/kg as well as about mg/l
ppb
(parts per billion, American use, 10 9 ) means ng/g or #J,g/kg, as well as about
#J,g/l or mg/m 3
ppt
(parts per trillion, American use, 10 12 ) means pg/g or ng/kg or #J,g/t, as well as
about ng/l or #J,g/m 3 .
If plant nutrient elements are involved, marine biologist and marine chemist often
indicate concentrations in #J,g-at/l or, the more modern term, in #J,mol/l. To come to
this figure, the weight in #J,g/l is divided by the atomic weight of the element or compound in question.
Table 2 summarizes analysis of the elementary composition of seawater.
4