IS IT OKAY TO PEE IN THE OCEAN?
Yes, the author concludes, after describing in some detail the main components of urine and how our bodies produce it, peeing in the ocean is OK—after all, not only is the ocean really big, but whales and fish do it on a much larger scale, and smaller organisms like phytoplankton and corals actually depend on that for nutrients. How about elsewhere, like showers and swimming pools? Fine for the former, since the water isn’t lingering (though, Schwartz, cautions, avoid doing it in public showers); not OK for the latter, though from a scientific standpoint less because it’s gross than because it promotes unsafe bacterial growth. Schwartz directs her narrative flow away from issues connected to solid biowastes but does go on to sprinkle facts and insights on an impressive array of broad environmental topics from marine noise pollution to the effects of oil spills and plastic waste on oceanic acidity and habitats. She also stirs in directions for several simple demonstrations using, mostly, water and food coloring and closes with feasible suggested activities and a blank journal page for young “ocean protectors.” The two human figures who pop into view most often in Williams’ informally drawn spot art are both people of color.
