Water quality and living resources in the Chesapeake Bay that declined steadily over the last several decades have begun to show improvement. Bay grasses, which perform crucial functions in the ecosystem, have increased throughout the Bay. The oyster and blue crab catch, however, continues to dwindle, and some find fish populations have declined. Species, such as striped bass have increased to the point that they are commercially viable again.

The Chesapeake Bay\'s decline was evident as early as the 1950s. In the late 1970s, state and federal scientists began an extensive study to determine the reasons for the Bay\'s decline. Three major problems were ide

The presence of phosphorus in the Chesapeake Bay has been receiving extra attention because of its possible role in outbreaks of the toxic microbe pfiesteria. Pfiesteria is suspected to cause lesions on fish in the Bay. There are currently studies underway searching for a correlation between fertilizer runoff and the outbreak of Pfiesteria.

Although not often thought of, air pollution is the third source of pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. Nitrogen, phosphorus, acid rain and other airborne toxins are continually being dropped over Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. Sources of air pollution like cars, trucks, boats and lawn mowers produce millions of tons of pollution in the surrounding region every year. Stationary sources like power plants and factories, some hundreds or even thousands of miles away, do the same. These various pollutants eventually settle directly into the Bay or on land where stormwater eventually carries them into the Bay.

Toxins, such as the heavy metals mercury, cadmium, copper, lead, zinc; and pesticides, dioxins, polychlorinated biphenols (PCBs), polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and many other chemicals have been identified as a potential threat to the Bay. Toxic substances are poisonous to humans and other living things and have been known to cause a wide range of negative health effects. There are over 70,000 chemicals currently in use. Less that 2% of these chemicals have been adequately tested for their impact on human health and the environment. The testing, monitoring, and controlling of toxic substances is very complex and expensive. As a result, not enough is known about the kinds and amounts of toxic chemicals entering the Bay or t

Some topics in this essay:
Chesapeake Bay, Bay Polluted, Chesapeake Bay's, Bay Toxic, Bay Efforts, Bay America's, Eastern Shore’s, Pfiesteria Toxins, chesapeake bay, Bay Nitrogen, Bay Bay, air pollution, construction sites, power plants factories, excess nutrients, nitrogen phosphorus, bay receiving, toxic chemicals, maryland virginia, bay's decline, pollution chesapeake bay, chesapeake bay receiving, underwater grasses,