Dangers to Reefs(con't)

Pollution:

Pollution: Sewage, fertilizers, and pesticides all originate on land and often run off into the ocean. Since coral reefs are close to the shoreline, they are exposed to these pollutants in high concentrations. The University of Illinois study found that shipyard discharge and human sewage are making coral vulnerable to a deadly disease known as "black band disease." Another danger to the reefs are oil spills: these generally occur close to shore, often when the tanker runs into rocks in the shallow waters.