Over recent years, I have become increasingly intrigued by the oceans and the unique life within. This interest is what lead me to study marine science. Within the course of my first marine science class, I learned of the immense amounts of garbage and pollution that litter our seas and oceans. Immediately, I wanted to explore the problems and solutions involved, including the effect this pollution has on human health and what this could mean for the future of our planet. As a marine science student, I value the environment and the health and safety of marine organisms. Originally my research consisted of the effects on marine organisms, but that topic does not have very much public interest, otherwise humans would not consistently pollute the oceans. By studying ocean pollution's effect on humans, a topic that will get more public interest, we van bring an end to ocean pollution to help ourselves and ocean wildlife. Within my studies of marine science, I have learned the wide range of impacts that human pollutants have on our planet. I understand the concepts from the small details of chemicals to the extent of the damage they can cause. I have studied the basics of marine science extensively and read dozens of books and articles surrounding marine pollution, qualifying me to write this piece. These personal experiences are necessary for being able to fully understand the ideas other authors have to offer about this subject. 

In Geoffrey Knight's Book Plastic Pollution, he discusses the human usage of plastics, how they are made, the terrestrial and marine pollution of plastics, and finding solutions to these pollution problems. For the purposes of my research, I am focusing on his discussion of plastics in the oceans. Knight describes how plastics enter and travel through the food chain, inevitably ending with toxin ridden seafood being ingested by humans. The major interest in this article is the topic of toxin ingestion; this includes BPA, polychlorinated biphenyls, and DDT that linger in the oceans and are absorbed by plastic materials comprised mostly of plastic pellets used in plastic manufacturing. Fish mistake these pellets for food and eat them, then the toxins are absorbed into the tissues, where they stay until the fish are consumed by other organisms; often times humans. This transfer of toxins poses a major health threat to people who eat seafood. Geof Knight has only one other published book under the same series known as Hot Topics, which is not enough to give credibility because the book is about a completely unrelated subject. His text, however, is filled with many credible sources such as facts and statistics from the Environmental Protection Agency and The European Food Safety Authority. Also, most uncited information within the book can be fact checked with dozens of other articles, making the information fully credible. 

In a volume of "Environmental International" called "Pollution: A global threat," Melissa McCrink-Goode discusses the environmental impacts of pollution in the oceans and on land. These include the mass bleaching of coral reef systems, global phytoplankton decline, White Nose Syndrome in bats, and even Colony Collapse Disorder in honey bee colonies.  For the purposes of my research, I would like to focus on her discussion of problems within the oceans and how the problem is being addressed by the United States. The major values within the oceanic section of the text include the rising rates of carbon dioxide in our oceans causing warmer waters and the bleaching of coral reefs, the large percentage of coastal waters that have exhibited eutrophication and toxic algal blooms, and the unaddressed solutions by the United States. Although the government has "taken action," these actions are useless in stopping these problems because actions are voluntary by each state. Melissa McCrink-Goode is an extremely credible author due to her studies of conservation, sustainability, and climate at Columbia University, and the publication of her work in an official environmental journal. As for the sources used in her text, they are abundant and credible. Sources include several publications by The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, The Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program, and The Environmental Protection Agency. Other sources include published articles by environmental and oceanic experts, making her article a reliable source for information. 

Published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin is an article about the inter-relationship between human health and the oceans. It addresses the topic of global change, harmful algal blooms, microbial and chemical contamination of oceans and seafood, and their relationships with humans. The topic of the most value is the harmful algal blooms and humans influence in the increasing amount of them. Human-assisted transportation of dinoflagellates in spat cultivation, dumping of ship ballast water, and global warming caused by increased carbon dioxide emission all contribute to these toxic algal blooms and the increased risk of them affecting humans. Instead of just one author, this article was written as a collaboration between many different people. This gives the text more authority because the reader can see that this knowledge is agreed upon by several and is more likely to be factual. This article sites facts from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, one of the best and most reliable sources for information regarding the environment. This article also cites over one hundred sources dealing with these topics, showing that the authors have an immense knowledge of the topic from all their research and that this knowledge is widely accepted and used in many publications. Overall this article is credible and will prove to be a reliable source for information.

The research question I have formulated is feasible due to it being posed as a "how" question. There is little room for someone else to challenge the ideas I present in a way that creates an opposing side. A reader could argue the extent to which my information holds true but the scientific evidence behind it has been proven again and again. Some readers may simply not believe my argument due to no prior knowledge of the subject, but most people with knowledge of environmental conservation or marine science would agree. While there are no opposing perspectives of the topic there are different focuses. For example, there will be disagreement to which solution would be best, or which problem is the most important. These different perspectives do not affect mine completely but do slightly sway me to include more or less of certain information from each source. When it comes to the research question, if I revise it, I will most likely broaden it or add a second topic that ties into pollution, such as the possible or best solution to stop future pollution, how to clean up the current pollution in our oceans, or what the future holds for our planet if pollution continues to occur as it currently does.

