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Tox Town - Environmental health concerns and toxic chemicals where you live, work, and play
Marina and Boatsen español

Why are marinas and boats a concern?

A marina has docks, moorings, supplies, and other facilities for privately-owned recreational boats. Because marinas are located at the water’s edge, pollution created by boats, marinas, and water runoff can enter the water directly. The growth in recreational boating has increased the impacts of marinas and boats on coastal resources. 

Potential pollutants from marinas and boats include oil, gas, diesel, antifreeze, detergents, and cleaning solvents. These can be released when refueling, doing boat maintenance, or pumping out bilge water that collects in the bottom of a boat. Heavy metals used in boat maintenance include arsenic and chromium in paints and wood preservatives; zinc to prevent corrosion of engines and hulls; and copper in antifouling paints that prevent barnacles from growing on boat bottoms. Boat sanding and painting can create dust and paint drippings at marinas. Boat engines also release air pollutants that contribute to ground-level ozone and smog. 

Dumping untreated sewage into the water from a marina or boat can pollute water and spread bacteria, viruses, and parasites, causing illness and even death in humans and marine life. Sewage can contaminate shellfish and feed algae blooms. It can also damage delicate coral reefs. The U.S. Clean Vessel Act helps reduce pollution from boat sewage, and provides pumpout and dump stations for boaters to dispose of their waste in an environmentally safe way. 

When anglers clean their fish at docks or marinas, they often toss the fish waste overboard. As fish waste decomposes, it can rob the water of oxygen, harm other fish and marine life, and cause odors. Trash dumped into the water from marinas and boats can hurt or kill fish, birds, turtles, and other marine animals. Trash can also clog propellers. 

Wetlands, shellfish, plants, and marine habitat can be destroyed by marina-related activities such as construction of docks and piers, dredging of channels for boat traffic, and speeding boats.


Web Links from MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine)
Drowning
Motion Sickness
Water Pollution
Water Safety (Recreational)

More Links
Boating Pollution Prevention Tips (Environmental Protection Agency)
Shipshape Shores and Waters: Handbook for Marina Operators and Recreational Boaters (Environmental Protection Agency) PDF Icon
Using Your Head to Help Protect Our Aquatic Resources (Environmental Protection Agency)
Vessel Sewage Discharge Program (Environmental Protection Agency)

Chemicals and Marinas
Are these chemicals in MY environment?
Acetone
Ammonia
Arsenic
Benzene
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Monoxide
Chlorine
Chromium
Diesel
Ethylene Glycol
Formaldehyde
Gasoline
Lead
Mercury
Natural Gas
Nitrogen Oxides
Ozone
Particulate Matter
Perchloroethylene
Pesticides
Phthalates
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Propane
Solvents
Sulfur Dioxide
Toluene
Volatile Organic Compounds


Last Updated: October 28, 2008

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