REVERSING POLLUTION

Pollution from human activities, such as fertilizer and agrochemical runoff and untreated sewage, present as great a threat to the oceans as overfishing. In Europe, nitrate pollution coincides with areas subsidized by the government. Fertilizer runoff can result in nutrient overload, overgrowth of algae and bacteria that eventually result in dead zones where much aquatic life cannot survive. Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) also produce toxins that harm humans, pets, and many oxygen dependent species like fish, shellfish, birds, and marine mammals such as otters and seals.

Conventional agriculture results in harmful runoff. In the nearer term, to prevent dead zones, water from conventional agriculture needs to be cleaned up of nutrients and pesticides before being released into coastal waterways. However, commercially viable systems do not exist. Anthrocean supports research to formulate better technology solutions.

Evaluating Nitrate Removal from Agricultural Drainage in Monterey County Using Low Cost Treatment Systems
Central Coast Wetlands Group

Reducing nitrate load in agricultural runoff is a regional issue in Monterey County (as well as throughout California, the United States and much of the world) due to issues of groundwater contamination, harmful effects on aquatic ecosystems, and the potential for excess nutrients to create hypoxic conditions and harmful algal blooms in sloughs, bays and the open ocean. The study of simple, low-cost, minimal maintenance treatment systems for nitrate removal can inform agricultural producers about alternatives relevant to different settings and conditions as they seek solutions to reduce pollution leaving the farm.

Comparing Methods to Clean Up Nutrient Run-off: Multi-chambered Bioreactor Project
Central Coast Wetlands Group

Agriculture intensification has resulted in increased fertilization, and correspondingly increased nutrient runoff. This runoff can have disastrous effects downstream, decreasing oxygen in waters, or hypoxia, that cause much life in rivers and oceans to die. Hypoxia has been observed in Elkhorn Slough, from agriculture in Salinas, CA.

Pesticide Removal Project
University of California, Davis

The UC Davis Marine Pollution Studies Lab at Granite Canyon conducts applied toxicology research in watersheds, estuaries, and coastal waters. This project investigated methods for reducing pesticide loading in agriculture and urban runoff.

Oleo Sponge Field Test
Argonne National Laboratory

Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have invented Oleo Sponge, a technology for oil cleanup and recovery from bodies of water using a nanotechnology-coated sponge. Oleo Sponge’s oil sorption performance was demonstrated at the laboratory scale.

Protecting People and the Planet from Toxic Pesticides
Earthjustice

Earthjustice works to get dangerous pesticides out of our fields, water, and food supply, and to protect the communities and ecosystems threatened by these toxic chemicals. Most recently, Earthjustice won its decades-long fight to ban the use of chlorpyrifos on food nationwide. Anthrocean supported this work, and also outreach to communities on the effects of pesticides in the environment.

Protecting Pollinators and Humans from Toxic Pesticides
Center for Food Safety

Center for Food Safety’s mission is to empower people, support farmers, and protect the earth from the harmful impacts of industrial agriculture and promote sustainable food and farming alternatives. In 2018, support from Anthropocene Institute enabled CFS to continue to be a leader in the movement to halt the use of toxic pesticides, including neonicotinoids, and protect pollinators and human health from the impacts of these pesticides. Some of their accomplishments included:

Further Resources

Phytoremediation database – lists plants and algae that can absorb and break down pollutants.