Tlaughs t1_isqwgpy wrote
Reply to comment by Uptown-Dog in Ultrathin polymer-based ordered membranes that effectively remove salt from seawater and brine could provide a promising alternative to existing water desalination systems by giuliomagnifico
Recent research suggest this isn't true if it's pumped out to blue ocean it dilutes to nontoxic levels extremely quickly
Uptown-Dog t1_isqx2u5 wrote
Do you have a link available? Also, how far out qualifies as "blue ocean"? It would almost certainly be contingent upon currents too, as otherwise it would build up? I would also be curious as to how rigorous the science is, as opposed to "we pushed it out of sight and we're bad enough at detecting life there that no one is able to call us out at this stage for killing things there".
Which isn't to say that I'm not encouraged to hear that - and maybe there's an argument to be made that life close to shore is more important than life further out?? - but it needs to be sustainable.
Tlaughs t1_isvuorj wrote
I don't, it came up months ago in a similar post to this one, and they had sources which I do not.
It might very well have been the latter part of what you said, marine life is overwhelmingly close to shore or other landmarks like reefs/wrecks/vents. When it is pumped out into open ocean the currents can fully reach and disperse it, with a fraction of marine life within the (reduced) zone in which the salts are toxic. It all came from the ocean, and despite the massive volumes that are desalinated, it's not a meaningful increase in concentration.
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