Marine Pollution and Human Health RSC [Hardcover]

Marine pollution continues to be an environmental issue, despite increased environmental awareness and international conventions on pollution. Over two-thirds of the earth is covered in water, and the consequences of polluted marine ecosystems on human health cannot be ignored. This latest volume of the comprehensive Issues in Environmental Science and Technology series includes chapters from leading marine scientists and discusses pathogens and pollutions in marine ecosystems, along with the impact of toxins released by algal blooms. Looking to the future, the book examines the potential effects of climate change on marine pollution and outlines the challenges facing policy makers.There is growing concern about the state of the world's oceans. The rapid growth of human populations in coastal regions has led to increasing dependence on marine resources. Beneficial features related to food supply and life style need to be balanced against the hazards presented by microbial pathogens, chemical pollutants, and toxic algal blooms. In this book, a group of experts from a range of backgrounds review the key aspects of the marine environment in relation to human health. An initial overview explains the need for integrating a range of disciplines, from physical oceanography and marine biology to molecular biology and epidemiology. Only by this approach can we hope to predict the consequences of environmental change and exploitation of natural resources upon our coastal ecosystems and, ultimately, on society and human health. Subsequent chapters then focus on more specialized topics. Firstly, waterborne pathogens are reviewed in detail and the microbial measures and policy implications important for protecting humans from exposure are described. Next, the consumption of contaminated seafood is considered along with its implications regarding the growth of aquaculture. Priority pollutants, emerging contaminants, and plastics are investigated as are the effects of climate chanlÃj