Habibe Eren 

 

ISTANBUL - Mucilage, which has increased in the Marmara Sea in recent days, seriously affects nature and human life in many ways. In this context, we have compiled what mucilage is and its effects in 5 questions.

 

The mucilage, which has been seen in the Marmara Sea recently and is the sign of a great disaster, is considered as the death of the Marmara Sea. First found on the coasts of Şarköy, mucilage began to be seen in Tekirdağ, Gemlik and Mudanya, and then in Istanbul, mainly on the coasts of Kartal, Pendik, Caddebostan and Moda. Mucilage (sea saliva) presents itself as a dense layer on the coasts of Bandırma and Erdek these days. Many experts say that the mucilage that appears in the Sea of Marmara arises as a result of the increase in water temperature due to global warming and the discharge of industrial and domestic wastewater into the Marmara Sea without treatment.

 

Action Plan to Protect the Sea of Marmara

 

In the statement made by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization regarding the mucilage problem, it was stated that "Mucilage Problem in the Marmara Sea and Solution Suggestions Workshop" will be held on June 4 with the participation of all parties and the "Action Plan for the Protection of the Marmara Sea" will be shared with the public on June 6.

On the other hand, the question submitted by the Republican People's Party (CHP) to the parliament to investigate the problem was rejected by the Justice and Development Party (AKP)-Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) votes.

The formation of mucilage is not new, but it brings with it many dangers that will have long-lasting effects and affect human life. As Jinnews, we have compiled the causes and effects of mucilage in five questions.

 

What is mucilage?

 

Mucilage is a thick, sticky substance produced by almost all plants and some microorganisms. One of these microorganisms is protists, which use mucilage for their movement. Mucilage in plants plays a role in water and nutrient storage, germination, membrane thickening. Mucilage needs a high level of nitrogen and phosphate input and water temperature to form. Mucilage is also known as Sea Slobber.

 

Mucilage needs dissolved oxygen in water to be broken down. An important parameter for balancing the oxygen level in the water is the ideal temperature of the water. However, with global warming and pollution of sea waters (such as sea pollution creating turbidity and causing more sun rays to collect and increase temperature; increasing oxidation and lowering the oxygen level), sea waters get warmer, and the oxygen level decreases.

Where and when was mucilage first seen?

 

The mucilage, which has started to be seen frequently in the Marmara Sea in recent months, has also covered Kartal and Pendik Coasts in Istanbul. Mucilage was first seen in Marmara in 2007-2008. However, that period was much more intense than it is now. Mucilage, which is also seen on the coasts of Çanakkale, Balıkesir, Büyükada and Kocaeli, causes color change and intense odor in the sea.

 

There are three main factors in the formation of mucilage. These factors are:

 

 "*Sea temperatures are above average temperatures,

 

 * Increasing the rate of pollution in the sea,

 

 *The sea is stabile.

 

In the event of all three, some plankton species begin to multiply faster.

 

Effects of mucilage?

 

Mucilage has a significant impact on fisheries and tourism, especially on marine life. Mucilage is more abundant in the depths of the sea than at the surface. Some of them break up and rise to the surface, while others sink to the bottom. Since it uses the oxygen in the water during broke down, it causes a decrease in the amount of dissolved oxygen and causes ecological destruction by covering the areas of other living things. Those that sink to the bottom threaten the life at the bottom. On the other hand, some species that are effective in the formation of mucilage contain toxins.

 

Food engineer Bülent Şık, in an article he wrote about mucilage, states that mucilage can cause a cholera epidemic. Cholera is an intestinal infection with severe diarrhea and vomiting that causes rapid dehydration in the body. Its treatment is based on replacing the lost water. However, it is a disease that can lead to death within hours if treatment opportunities are insufficient.

 

The disease agent is abundant in the feces of sick people that flow out like water. Contamination of these feces through personal contact or with food and water causes the disease to quickly turn into an epidemic.

 

Does it pose a danger to marine life?

 

Some species that are effective in the formation of mucilage may contain toxins. These, of course, pose a risk to some living things that breathe with gills. However, such creatures usually flee from this area when they sense this danger. This causes a decrease in living things and biodiversity.

 

Do thermal power plants have effect on mucilage in the Sea of Marmara?

 

 Hydrobiologist Levent Artüz, the coordinator of the AREM (Marmara Environmental Monitoring) project, states that thermal power plants also have effect on marine pollution, which is defined as "sea saliva", which creates mucilage in the Marmara Sea. Describing the mucilage incident in the Marmara Sea as "What we see is the decay of a corpse", the hydrobiologist emphasizes that the thermal power plants in the Marmara Region also play a role in this pollution.