Ecotoxicological profile of a high prevalence marine disease area in Florida's Gulf coast

Marine Pollution Bulletin
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Abstract

Pervasive marine pollution can have devastating effects on ocean health. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB), Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH), and Organochlorine Pesticides (OCP) are of particular concern given their high level of toxicity and carcinogenicity. These compounds originate from anthropogenic activity, therefore are often ubiquitous in coastal environments close to human sources. Marine turtles in coastal Florida (USA) are affected by fibropapillomatosis, a tumor-causing panzootic with highly debilitating symptoms. Despite repeated associations between fibropapillomatosis occurrence and carcinogenic pollution, the ecotoxicological status of high disease areas in the Florida Gulf has been unknown. Our study deployed passive sampling devices along a structured inshore-to-offshore coastal grid to generate the first comprehensive dataset on the concentration and diversity of oncogenic pollutants in Crystal River, Florida, where juvenile green turtles exhibit a fibropapillomatosis prevalence of 74%. Multiple OCP, PAH, and PCB compounds were detected for a total chemical concentration of 16,086.98 pg/L (Σ OCP 45.51 pg/L + Σ PAH 16,014.53 pg/L + Σ PCB 26.94 pg/L). Density and composition of carcinogenic pollution was found to be significantly lower in offshore green turtle habitats compared to inshore habitats (p=0.02), suggesting multiple potential contamination sources along the coastline. The carcinogenic compounds detected have been shown to have associations with fibropapillomatosis in other parts of the world, as well as having wider ecosystem implications. Our work contributes to the body of knowledge correlating the emerging threat of harmful ocean pollution and marine wildlife diseases.

Suggested Citation

Constanza, M., Herren, R., Kozuch, M., Cooper, E., Lilyestrom, M., Evans, D., Godfrey, D., Duffy, D., Capua, I., and Carthy, R., 2026, Ecotoxicological profile of a high prevalence marine disease area in Florida's Gulf coast: Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 230, 119273, 13 p., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119273.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Ecotoxicological profile of a high prevalence marine disease area in Florida's Gulf coast
Series title Marine Pollution Bulletin
DOI 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119273
Volume 230
Year Published 2026
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Atlanta
Description 119273, 13 p.
Country United States
State Florida
County Citrus County
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