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Article: Human Health and the Ocean
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- Water:Science and Issues
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CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Human Health and the Ocean
The interaction between people and the ocean
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particularly the coastal ocean
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allows for instances in which the ocean and its inhabitants can have negative effects on human health. The greatest biological risk posed to people is from eating tainted seafood, although other factors also can harm humans:
for example, the discharge into waterways of organic and inorganic wastes, including
toxic
substances; the global transport of microorganisms by shipping; and marine animals that bite or sting. Physical processes affecting human health include rough seas that threaten both small and large vessels; weather disturbances such as typhoons and ...