Marine Pollution And Impact Of Radioactive Substances Under Water
- IJLLR Journal
- Mar 24
- 2 min read
Arpita Sahu, KIIT School of Law
ABSTRACT
The growing crisis of marine pollution and radioactive waste dumping poses severe environmental, legal, and health risks, demanding immediate global attention. Despite the presence of international treaties such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the London Convention, and the Basel Convention, enforcement remains weak due to jurisdictional ambiguities, corporate negligence, and limited monitoring mechanisms. Industrial waste, nuclear byproducts, and hazardous chemicals continue to contaminate oceans, threatening marine biodiversity and human health through bioaccumulation in seafood. This paper critically examines the legal frameworks governing marine pollution, highlighting enforcement challenges, jurisdictional loopholes, and inconsistent national policies, particularly in India, which faces significant coastal pollution. It explores case studies, including the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the Soviet Union’s Cold War-era waste dumping, and the Exxon Valdez oil spill, to illustrate the devastating impact of unchecked pollution.
To address these issues, the study proposes strengthening international and national regulations, enhancing technological surveillance through AI- driven monitoring systems, imposing stricter corporate liability, and promoting sustainable waste management solutions. The need for a global enforcement body, real-time tracking mechanisms, and harsher penalties for violations is emphasized as a crucial step toward safeguarding marine ecosystems. The research underscores the urgency of collective action, legal activism, and policy-driven solutions to combat marine pollution. Without stringent enforcement and innovative legal reforms, the world's oceans will continue to suffer irreversible damage, threatening both ecological balance and human livelihoods. This paper calls for a comprehensive, technology- integrated, and globally coordinated approach to turn the tide against marine pollution and ensure a cleaner, sustainable future for generations to come.
Keywords: Marine pollution, radioactive waste dumping, international legal frameworks, enforcement challenges, sustainable waste management.
