Human Health Risks from Contaminants in Marine Resources: Implications for Ocean Health and Food Security

Marine resources are a cornerstone of human nutrition, providing high-quality protein, essential fatty acids, and key micronutrients. At the same time, oceans act as major sinks for contaminants originating from industrial discharges, urban runoff, agricultural activities, mining operations, and atmospheric deposition. Trace elements such as mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and lead, together with organic pollutants and emerging contaminants, can accumulate in marine organisms consumed by humans. As a consequence, seafood may represent a significant pathway of exposure to toxic substances, particularly for coastal communities and populations with high levels of fish and shellfish consumption.A growing body of evidence highlights pronounced spatial and species-specific variability in contaminant burdens, driven by environmental conditions, trophic ecology, and anthropogenic pressures. Understanding these patterns is essential to assess realistic consumption risks, balance the nutritional benefits of seafood against potential adverse health effects, and provide robust scientific input to inform public policy and management strategies.The primary goal of this Research Topic is to critically assess the risks associated with human consumption of contaminated marine resources, while situating these risks within a broader framework of ocean health and sustainability. This Topic seeks to move beyond purely descriptive assessments by promoting integrative approaches that explicitly link contaminant occurrence in marine organisms with exposure assessment, human health risk metrics, and implications for fisheries management and decision-making.Key challenges addressed include: (i) improving the ecological interpretation of contaminant patterns within marine food webs; (ii) refining human health risk assessment methodologies, including uncertainty analysis and region-specific consumption scenarios; and (iii) identifying how fisheries management, pollution control measures, and policy interventions can effectively reduce health risks without compromising food security. By fostering dialogue across natural sciences, health sciences, and governance, this Research Topic aims to support evidence-based decision-making and promote the safe and sustainable use of marine living resources in the context of ongoing global environmental change.This Research Topic welcomes contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Concentrations, distributions, and profiles of contaminants in marine organisms of commercial and subsistence importance.• Bioaccumulation and biomagnification processes within marine food webs.• Human health risk assessment related to seafood consumption (e.g., THQ, HI, TCR, benefit–risk approaches).• Regional and global comparisons of contaminant exposure through marine resources.• Effects of climate change on contaminant dynamics and human exposure pathways.• Integration of food safety, fisheries management, and ocean health within One Health / One Ocean frameworks.• Implications for public policy, monitoring programs, and sustainable seafood consumption advisories.We encourage submission of Original Research, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, Systematic Reviews, Perspectives, and Policy-focused articles that provide interdisciplinary and policy-relevant insights. Topic editors: Alejandra Vanina Volpedo, Carlos German Massone Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77883/human-health-risks-from-contaminants-in-marine-resources-implications-for-ocean-health-and-food-security