Evaluating the toxicity in flora and fauna due to marine pollutants has
attracted immense scientific, regulatory and public attention over the past years. In
recent years, types and levels of contaminants in the marine environment have
increased as a result of anthropogenic activities worldwide. These chemical substances
are accumulated in the tissues of marine organisms and exerting harmful impacts on
marine flora and fauna. Published literature on the biological effects of marine
pollution revealed that the effects and distribution of marine pollutants have been
increased significantly. This chapter focuses on better understanding of the toxicity
evaluation of marine biota and has been divided into four main sections: (i) categories
of marine pollutants affecting marine flora and fauna (ii) pollutant sources, routes of
exposure and toxicological impacts on marine organisms (iii) impacts of pollutants
specifically on marine flora (iv) bioassay studies at the organism level discussing
marine toxicity.
Keywords: Marine Pollution, Toxicological Impacts, Plastics, Oil Spills,
Bioassays, Bioaccumulation, Biomarkers.
