Final answer:
Nonpoint source pollution in the neritic zone involves diffuse contaminants from various sources and is challenging to address due to its widespread nature and the difficulty in removing certain pollutants like nitrogen and phosphorus.
Step-by-step explanation:
The neritic zone is significantly impacted by nonpoint source pollution, which includes contaminants that enter the environment from multiple, diffuse sources. Unlike point source pollution, which is easier to identify and manage, nonpoint source pollution involves a plethora of pollutants such as herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, oil, antifreeze, and even acid drainage from mines.
These substances are often introduced to the environment via rainfall, which carries them over vast areas of land and into bodies of water like the neritic zone. This form of pollution is challenging to combat due to its diffuse nature, making regulatory measures more complex.
Furthermore, substances like nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), which are notoriously hard to remove from wastewater, contribute to eutrophication—a process that can lead to depleted oxygen levels in water systems, affecting aquatic life negatively.
Contributing factors such as air pollution are also notable, as airborne nutrients and pesticides travel far from their sources, further complicating the tracking and management of these pollutants. Consequently, the effects of nonpoint source pollution are broad, encompassing both environmental and economic aspects and entail expensive corrective measures due to their ubiquitous nature.