The NIEHS/NSF funded Scripps Center for Oceans and Human Health aims to advance scientific research and community engagement on seafood pollutants and seafood safety. Researchers are studying the role of the marine microbiome in the production and transport of essential micronutrients and harmful contaminants and the interactions between seafood pollutants and human health. The SCOHH bridges science discovery, environmental health literacy, and community engagement to build capacity for public health risk prevention while highlighting the health benefits of consuming fish.

Climate Change Impacts on the Human Intake of Seafood Micronutrients and Contaminants

Methylmercury and polychlorinated biphenyls are two common contaminants in seafood that pose a risk to human health. This project examines how climate change impacts marine food web structure and the bioaccumulation of these contaminants in marine ecosystems.

The Marine Microbiome As a Source for the Synthesis, Transformation, and Distribution of Seafood Contaminants

Environmental pollutants are an ongoing concern in marine ecosystems that can severely impact human health. Marine microbes, such as algae and bacteria, are a key part of the marine food web and can metabolize these pollutants and synthesize new contaminants. Researchers are using genetic and biochemical techniques to discover the marine microbial communities that are involved in these processes and contribute to seafood contamination.

Bioaccumulation and Developmental Toxicity of Seafood Pollutants

This project examines the developmental toxicity of seafood contaminants. It leverages transgenic sea urchins to determine the role of marine transporters in pollutant accumulation, as well as biophysical and structural characterization of human, fish, and sea urchin transporters to precisely define their mechanisms of pollutant interaction. In parallel, high throughput approaches with sea urchin embryos and human cells define the developmental targets of these toxicants.

Community Engagement Core

The goal of the Community Engagement Core (CEC) is to protect the public by limiting their exposure to marine contaminants and pollutants while highlighting the health benefits of consuming fish. This is being achieved through increased environmental health literacy, including increasing our understanding of the needs and barriers to accessing and using information about seafood, dialogue and participation with decision makers and stakeholder groups, and ultimately helping people to make healthier informed choices around eating fish. To help with this, the science is translated in culturally appropriate ways within the broader context of seafood sustainability and safety, and disseminated widely for stakeholder use using an innovative mix of communication tools, techniques and storytellers.