Toxic tides affect all estuaries and coastal ecosystems. Some toxin producers are linked to nutrient over-enriched areas. Increases in the amount of nitrogen, phosphorous and other nutrients washing off the land such as fertilizers and animal waste contribute to the problem. Increased traffic on the world s oceans my by spreading new blooms due to water used as ballast in ships transporting the toxins and introducing them to different areas around the world. Toxins and nontoxins have always been in the oceans and estuaries.
Blooms are responsible for life and the continuation of natural ocean processes.
Blooms that die settle to the ocean floor and produce massive amounts of carbon on the ocean floor developing into oil deposits. The oceans, much unexplored, have been mixing toxins for many years developing biological interactions. However, as mankind increases on the planet, mankind will encounter many mysterious toxins never experienced in the past.