Pollution in the Eastern Pacific Ocean: insights and perspectives

The (TEP) is a geographical area located from Baja California, Mexico to Central and South America (Peru); in volume, it occupies about 18% of the Pacific Ocean and 23% of productivity. It is a unique and complex ecosystem with seasonal and interannual physicochemical and climate variations directly influencing the biology of all the species inhabiting; El Niño-Southern Oscillation and the upwellings cycles are very important events within the TEP. It has coastal lagoons and estuaries with mangrove forest, sandy and rocky beaches, coral reefs, hydrothermal vents and oceanic deep waters. It has a very high biodiversity comprising endemic species (marine mammals, sharks and rays, turtles, seabirds, fishes) and very important migratory routes as well as protected areas. Human settlements have been historically placed near coastal zones. Nevertheless, continental water inputs in TEP are reduced compared to East America; there are many rivers but with water flows from moderate to low. Also, this area has abundant international value species targeted by intensive fisheries. An important problem is that coastal areas receive, through direct input and drainage basins, substances from anthropic activities such as industrial manufacturing and energy, agriculture, mining, aquaculture, poultry and cattle, among others, causing pollution, damage and disturbances to aquatic ecosystems. It is crucial to mention that TEP has been exposed to climate change and overfishing in several areas, whereas this contributes to aquatic life stress and changes in biological and distribution patterns of the resources.Pollutants can quickly interact and cause negatively effects to organisms, that could end in death. Thus, toxicity depends deeply on the pollutant identity, the exposure level and time, and physiological variables such as cellular and metabolic rate, feeding habits and maturity. Finally, environmental pollutants can lead to bioaccumulation and biomagnification processes, affecting the food chain causing risk to human health by consumption of TEP species.This research topic aims to contribute to understanding the sources, incidence, transport and bioaccumulation, health risks along with physicochemical and biological processes that impact aquatic life and fate through water pollution. Papers dealing with TEP waters toxicity and impacts of priority environmental pollutants such as pesticides, trace elements, micro and nano plastics, biotoxins, emergent drugs, organic and persistent pollutants (PAHs, dioxins, hydrocarbons, furans, PCBs, phthalates, etc.), biotoxins, nutrients, fecal contamination as well as changes in species stocks caused by climate change and/or overfishing, are welcome. Topic editors: Magdalena Elizabeth Bergés Tiznado, Carmen Cristina Osuna-Martínez Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/74878/pollution-in-the-eastern-pacific-ocean-insights-and-perspectives