What role does pollution play in ocean health?

Pollution plays a significant role in negatively impacting ocean health, which is why the correct answer is that it detrimentally affects ecosystems. Various forms of pollution, such as plastic waste, chemicals, and nutrient runoff, can harm marine life and disrupt the delicate balance of ocean ecosystems.

For example, plastics can lead to physical harm for marine animals that ingest or become entangled in debris. Chemical pollutants, including heavy metals and pesticides, can accumulate in the tissues of marine organisms, leading to toxic effects and affecting entire food webs. Nutrient pollution can cause harmful algal blooms, which deplete oxygen in the water and create dead zones where marine life cannot survive.

This multifaceted impact on marine ecosystems illustrates that pollution is a serious threat, rather than something that might improve marine life or have minimal effects. The notion that pollution could enhance recreational activities also overlooks the substantial health risks and environmental degradation associated with polluted waters, which ultimately diminish the quality of recreational opportunities.