This idiom describes something so small it seems insignificant, but that cannot be said for pollutants in the ocean, which can have far-reaching consequences for marine biodiversity. Many pollutants entering marine environments do not break down easily and can persist for years or even decades. These so-called “forever chemicals” tend to be widely used in everyday products such as food packaging, non-stick cookware, firefighting foam, and clothing. “Many pollutants are harmful even at low concentrations,” explains Dr. Juan José Alava, Honorary Research Associate at the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries and founder of the Ocean Pollution Research Unit. Forever chemicals can accumulate in the marine food web, impacting top predators such as the endangered southern resident and threatened Bigg’s (transient) killer whales along the BC coast. These pollutants can even transfer from mothers to calves before birth. Bioaccumulation poses health risks not only to wildlife but also to Indigenous people who strongly rely on traditional seafood. The problem is compounded by the myth that dilution — simply dispersing or dissolving pollutants— is enough to solve it. “Dilution is not the solution to pollution,” cautions Alava. While a pollutant might seem like just a drop in the ocean, its impacts can be anything but small. “There is a need for preventive pollution measures and proper treatment before pollutants reach our oceans,” says Alava.

While a #pollutant might seem like just a drop in the #ocean, its impacts can be anything but small.

oceans.ubc.ca/ocean-idioms/
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