SAN DIEGO — It may not come as a surprise that about 250 human-made chemicals are present in the ocean, but the types of chemicals being discovered are raising new concerns among scientists.
A new study led by researchers at the University of California, Riverside, reveals just how widespread these substances have become, with contributions from scientists around the globe, including researchers at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla.
The iconic Scripps Pier, known for its sweeping coastal views, is also home to a wide array of scientific instruments. These tools help researchers monitor ocean conditions, though sometimes the most valuable data comes from something as simple as a bucket of seawater.
A global effort to track ocean pollution
Scientists around the world have collected more than 2,300 water samples from diverse locations, including San Diego, South Africa, and Puerto Rico. These samples were taken from coastlines, estuaries, and the open ocean, forming one of the most comprehensive analyses of ocean chemistry to date…