Review on emerging marine pollutants: sources, risks, and governance of EDCs, PFAS, microplastics, and antibiotics

Emerging pollutants pose an escalating threat to the stability of marine ecosystem, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive understanding and evidence-based interventions. This paper examines several classes of emerging pollutants, taking four typical types as representatives: endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), microplastics and antibiotics, providing a detailed account of their sources in the marine environment, transmission pathways, and impacts on marine organisms and ecosystems. Mitigation strategies currently available for each pollutant class are also critically evaluated. This review systematically analyzes more than 100 studies published from 1993 to 2025, with the majority concentrated from 2010 to 2025, from a global perspective. Through a synthesis and critical analysis of relevant literature and research findings, this study aims to provide robust scientific evidence and evidence-based recommendations for marine environmental management and policy for marine environmental protection and the advancement of sustainable marine development.