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Climate change drives persistent organic pollutant dynamics in marine environments
Pamela D Noyes1, Daniele Miranda2, Gabriel Oliveira de Carvalho3
1Integrated Climate Sciences Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. EPA, Washington, DC, USA.
Communications Earth & Environment
|March 12, 2026
Summary
Climate change and chemical pollution threaten marine ecosystems. This review maps how persistent organic pollutants (POPs) interact with climate shifts, impacting marine life and food webs.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Marine Biology
- Ecotoxicology
Background:
- Marine ecosystems face combined pressures from climate change and anthropogenic stressors like chemical pollution.
- Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are chemicals of concern with long environmental persistence.
- Understanding the synergistic effects of climate change and POPs is crucial for ecosystem management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and model the environmental fate and biological effects of POPs under changing climate conditions.
- To identify vulnerable marine ecosystems and populations affected by these combined stressors.
- To highlight data gaps and research needs in this interdisciplinary field.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of POPs' environmental fate and biological effects.
- Conceptual model development to map interactions between climate drivers and POPs.
- Analysis of evidence concerning fish, invertebrates, marine mammals, and seabirds.
Main Results:
- Climate change drivers like ice melt alter POP dynamics, particularly in polar regions.
- Biological effects include reduced survival and disrupted thermal regulation in fish and invertebrates.
- Food web shifts due to climate change modify POP bioaccumulation in marine mammals and seabirds.
Conclusions:
- Combined climate change and POP pollution pose risks of ecological deterioration in vulnerable marine areas.
- Significant knowledge gaps exist, particularly regarding non-polar regions and higher trophic levels.
- Further research using advanced experimental and modeling tools is essential to understand these complex interactions.
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