Saltwater is an abundant resource, but it is unusable for irrigation and drinking. As the demand for freshwater increases, the use of desalination processes to remove salt from saltwater also increases. One concern of desalination is the return of large amounts of recovered salt to the ocean. What is the most likely impact of desalination on the surrounding marine environment?

A) Alteration in ocean salinity levels causing loss of species and an unbalanced population in marine food webs.
B) Increased levels of salts and minerals in the ocean resulting in overpopulation of marine bivalves due to thickened shells.
C) Methane gas pollution in the marine environment due to shoreline organisms beginning to die and decay.
D) Depletion of nonrenewable resources in the marine environment impacting the balance of the ecosystem.