pollution of the oceans can also result in the spread of disease. phosphates and nitrates from fertilizers plus human waste eventually flow into the oceans. these pollutants result in the increased growth of tiny plants called algae. these plants provide a home for cholera, a deadly disease. the infected algae can stick to ships, which then carry the cholera germs all around the world. germs of the disease recently rode on ships going from India to South America. there, thousands of people have died from the resulting epidemic of cholera.