Research: Climate change turns ocean toxic, threatening health

Jakarta – Climate change is not only changing the earth’s temperature and oceans, but also causing the ocean to accumulate toxic metals that threaten human health. A new study reviewed by Phys.org, reveals that rising seawater temperatures and acidity are worsening the distribution of heavy metal elements such as lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium in global waters. This phenomenon poses a serious threat to human health and the sustainability of marine ecosystems.

In a study published by a team of researchers from GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel, researcher Dr Rebecca Zitoun stated that climate change is changing the distribution patterns of metal contaminants in the ocean, which has a major impact on the marine food chain.

“We wanted to understand how trace elements are being affected by climate change—an area that has seen very little research so far,” Dr Zitoun told Phys.org, on Wednesday, October 9.

According to Dr. Sylvia Sander, Professor of Marine Mineral Resources at GEOMAR, the concentration of toxic metals in the ocean has drastically increased since the pre-industrial era.

“Human activities have increased the global flow of toxic metals such as lead by tenfold and mercury by three to seven times compared to pre-industrial levels,” explains Dr Sander.

Various sources of marine pollution, such as plastics and silver nanoparticles in antibacterial products, also exacerbate this pollution. Plastics, commonly found in the ocean, can bind to metals such as copper, zinc and lead and release them into the water. These contaminant metal compounds enter the food chain.

Climate change leads to increased ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, and decreased oxygen levels, which affect the distribution of heavy metals in the waters. One of the key findings in this study is that mercury levels in Arctic waters are increasing due to changes in temperature and coastal erosion, including the release of mercury from natural sources due to melting glaciers and permafrost.

Coastal communities that depend on marine food sources are particularly vulnerable. As toxic metals accumulate in fish, crustaceans and other marine animals, humans in these areas face a high risk of health impacts from consuming contaminated food.

The researchers urge governments and the global community to pay more attention to the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems. Reducing pollution, both from plastic waste and the use of heavy metals in industry, are important steps to prevent further pollution. In addition, policies that reduce the use of toxic chemicals are also needed to protect the oceans and human health. (Hartatik)

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