A number of industrial processes, as well as transportation activities, agriculture and private households, collectively generate significant quantities of anthropogenic (man-made) pollutants such as carbon mono- and dioxide, sulfur and nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, particulate matter (e.g., PM2.5 particles with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm), synthetic non-biodegradable materials such as plastics, hazardous compounds (e.g., per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), plasticizers, pesticides, surfactants, additives, pharmaceutically active compounds (e.g., antibiotics)), UV-filters as well as toxic metals (e.g., lead, mercury) and organometallic pollutants. Despite the global attention towards pollution, new synthetic compounds are being created and daily released while the impact of persistent ones is still being felt, due to severe long-term consequences. It has been shown that many individual synthetic compounds can perturb physiological functions in organisms, whereas the combined actions of multiple pollutants are of particular concern because they can exert effects even when each individual chemical is present at concentrations too low to be individually effective. In addition, some drugs and household compounds are often measured, locally, at concentrations higher than those physiologically active. Concerns about the effects of man-made pollutants are mainly afforded with an anthropocentric point of view (e.g., reduced fertility, health concerns). However, since a wide range of species is susceptible to these compounds, the potential for disruption of ecosystems functioning, reducing the biodiversity and compromising long-term sustainability, is considerable. For instance, microplastic and additive toxicity studies on fishes and invertebrates cover a variety of outcomes, including reduced growth and reproduction, elevated inflammatory response and mortality. In contrast, indirect effects at the ecosystem level are more cryptic and may become only visible if the decline or loss of a prey species results in the reduction of food supplies for another one - with potential negative ripple-effects even for economically-important species. In many cases pollutant effects are biased by climate changes, accelerating pressures on individual organisms, species compositions and ecosystems. Thus, to understand the effects of specific pollutants at the ecosystem level detailed studies of many different taxa are required, in which organisms at the base of the food webs (e.g., algae, fungi, protozoa) need increased consideration due to their potentially higher sensitivity and importance for ecosystem functioning. The bottom-up evaluation of the effects of pollutants should include the actual effects demonstrated on the first consumers and any type of bioaccumulation.
Concerns about the effects of man-made pollutants are mainly afforded with an anthropocentric point of view (e.g., reduced fertility, health concerns). However, since a wide range of species is susceptible to these compounds, the potential for disruption of ecosystems functioning, reducing the biodiversity and compromising long-term sustainability, is considerable. For instance, microplastic and additive toxicity studies on fishes and invertebrates cover a variety of outcomes, including reduced growth and reproduction, elevated inflammatory response and mortality. In contrast, indirect effects at the ecosystem level are more cryptic and may become only visible if the decline or loss of a prey species results in the reduction of food supplies for another one - with potential negative ripple-effects even for economically-important species. In many cases pollutant effects are biased by climate changes, accelerating pressures on individual organisms, species compositions and ecosystems. Thus, to understand the effects of specific pollutants at the ecosystem level detailed studies of many different taxa are required, in which organisms at the base of the food webs (e.g., algae, fungi, protozoa) need increased consideration due to their potentially higher sensitivity and importance for ecosystem functioning. The bottom-up evaluation of the effects of pollutants should include the actual effects demonstrated on the first consumers and any type of bioaccumulation. The Research Topic is aimed at increasing scientific and public awareness regarding anthropogenic pollutants and their potential to disrupt ecosystem functioning, thereby facilitating the creation of new projects proving insights into impacts on the molecular level.
Protists occur in a wide variety of environments and ecological habitats all of which are exposed to a plethora of man-made pollutants. In particular chemical interactions and protist physiology may be prone to such pollutants and alterations on the molecular level may lead to unknown ecological consequences.
The Research Topic will host original researches and reviews on chemical, physiological, ecological and molecular aspects of anthropogenic pollutants, with special highlights on the effects of compounds on low-trophic organisms (primary producers and consumers, including grazers), the effects on ecosystems and on important animal and plant associations, the molecular evidences of specific processes, the impacts on ecosystem services and biodiversity trends, including the use of polluted waters for aquaculture and agricultural practices, both in seawater and in freshwater ecosystems.
We welcome submissions of the following article types: Brief Research Report, Case Report, General Commentary, Hypothesis & Theory, Methods, Mini Review, Opinion, Original Research, Perspective, Review, and Systematic Reviews.
Keywords:
PFASs, PCBs, PAHs, pesticides, pharmaceutics, algae, protozoa, organometallic, anti-fouling, grazers, UV-filters
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
A number of industrial processes, as well as transportation activities, agriculture and private households, collectively generate significant quantities of anthropogenic (man-made) pollutants such as carbon mono- and dioxide, sulfur and nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, particulate matter (e.g., PM2.5 particles with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm), synthetic non-biodegradable materials such as plastics, hazardous compounds (e.g., per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), plasticizers, pesticides, surfactants, additives, pharmaceutically active compounds (e.g., antibiotics)), UV-filters as well as toxic metals (e.g., lead, mercury) and organometallic pollutants. Despite the global attention towards pollution, new synthetic compounds are being created and daily released while the impact of persistent ones is still being felt, due to severe long-term consequences. It has been shown that many individual synthetic compounds can perturb physiological functions in organisms, whereas the combined actions of multiple pollutants are of particular concern because they can exert effects even when each individual chemical is present at concentrations too low to be individually effective. In addition, some drugs and household compounds are often measured, locally, at concentrations higher than those physiologically active. Concerns about the effects of man-made pollutants are mainly afforded with an anthropocentric point of view (e.g., reduced fertility, health concerns). However, since a wide range of species is susceptible to these compounds, the potential for disruption of ecosystems functioning, reducing the biodiversity and compromising long-term sustainability, is considerable. For instance, microplastic and additive toxicity studies on fishes and invertebrates cover a variety of outcomes, including reduced growth and reproduction, elevated inflammatory response and mortality. In contrast, indirect effects at the ecosystem level are more cryptic and may become only visible if the decline or loss of a prey species results in the reduction of food supplies for another one - with potential negative ripple-effects even for economically-important species. In many cases pollutant effects are biased by climate changes, accelerating pressures on individual organisms, species compositions and ecosystems. Thus, to understand the effects of specific pollutants at the ecosystem level detailed studies of many different taxa are required, in which organisms at the base of the food webs (e.g., algae, fungi, protozoa) need increased consideration due to their potentially higher sensitivity and importance for ecosystem functioning. The bottom-up evaluation of the effects of pollutants should include the actual effects demonstrated on the first consumers and any type of bioaccumulation.
Concerns about the effects of man-made pollutants are mainly afforded with an anthropocentric point of view (e.g., reduced fertility, health concerns). However, since a wide range of species is susceptible to these compounds, the potential for disruption of ecosystems functioning, reducing the biodiversity and compromising long-term sustainability, is considerable. For instance, microplastic and additive toxicity studies on fishes and invertebrates cover a variety of outcomes, including reduced growth and reproduction, elevated inflammatory response and mortality. In contrast, indirect effects at the ecosystem level are more cryptic and may become only visible if the decline or loss of a prey species results in the reduction of food supplies for another one - with potential negative ripple-effects even for economically-important species. In many cases pollutant effects are biased by climate changes, accelerating pressures on individual organisms, species compositions and ecosystems. Thus, to understand the effects of specific pollutants at the ecosystem level detailed studies of many different taxa are required, in which organisms at the base of the food webs (e.g., algae, fungi, protozoa) need increased consideration due to their potentially higher sensitivity and importance for ecosystem functioning. The bottom-up evaluation of the effects of pollutants should include the actual effects demonstrated on the first consumers and any type of bioaccumulation. The Research Topic is aimed at increasing scientific and public awareness regarding anthropogenic pollutants and their potential to disrupt ecosystem functioning, thereby facilitating the creation of new projects proving insights into impacts on the molecular level.
Protists occur in a wide variety of environments and ecological habitats all of which are exposed to a plethora of man-made pollutants. In particular chemical interactions and protist physiology may be prone to such pollutants and alterations on the molecular level may lead to unknown ecological consequences.
The Research Topic will host original researches and reviews on chemical, physiological, ecological and molecular aspects of anthropogenic pollutants, with special highlights on the effects of compounds on low-trophic organisms (primary producers and consumers, including grazers), the effects on ecosystems and on important animal and plant associations, the molecular evidences of specific processes, the impacts on ecosystem services and biodiversity trends, including the use of polluted waters for aquaculture and agricultural practices, both in seawater and in freshwater ecosystems.
We welcome submissions of the following article types: Brief Research Report, Case Report, General Commentary, Hypothesis & Theory, Methods, Mini Review, Opinion, Original Research, Perspective, Review, and Systematic Reviews.
Keywords:
PFASs, PCBs, PAHs, pesticides, pharmaceutics, algae, protozoa, organometallic, anti-fouling, grazers, UV-filters
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.