Editorial: Endocrine Disruption in Marine Species: Unravelling Pollution and Climate Change Effects

Juan Ignacio Bertucci^1*Ayelén Melisa Blanco²M. Dulce Estêvão^3,4

• ¹Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo (IEO-CSIC), Vigo, Spain
• ²Centro de Investigación Mariña, Laboratorio de Fisioloxía Animal, Departamento de Bioloxía Funcional e Ciencias da Saúde, Facultade de Bioloxía, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
• ³Universidade do Algarve, Escola Superior de Saúde. Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal
• ⁴Algarve Biomedical Center Research Institute (ABC-Ri), Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal

Endocrine disruption in marine species has emerged as a significant concern in environmental endocrinology, particularly in the context of escalating anthropogenic pressures. Persistent pollutants, including microplastics, heavy metals, and agrochemical residues, alongside climate-induced stressors like ocean warming and acidification, are now recognized as potent modulators of endocrine function in aquatic organisms. These stressors compromise critical physiological and behavioural processes, with potential implications for individual fitness, population viability, and ecosystem stability.Pollution and Climate Change Effects brings together a multidisciplinary set of contributions that examine the mechanistic underpinnings, organismal impacts, and ecological implications of endocrine disruption across marine taxa. This editorial synthesizes the key findings, contextualizes them within the broader scientific discourse, and highlights knowledge gaps and future research directions.The central objective of this Research Topic is to advance the mechanistic understanding of how environmental contaminants and climate-related stressors might perturb endocrine pathways in marine organisms. The articles included address fundamental questions including:• What molecular and cellular mechanisms underlie endocrine disruption in marine systems?• How are physiological endpoints such as growth, reproduction, and stress response altered by exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals?• In what ways do environmental parameters associated with climate change interact with or potentiate these disruptions?• What strategies can be implemented to mitigate endocrine-disruptive effects and reduce pollutant input into marine environments?This collection emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary approaches, bridging molecular endocrinology, marine toxicology, ecophysiology, and environmental policy.Yadetie et al. conducted a study exploring the effects of two endocrine-disrupting chemicals, ethynylestradiol and bisphenol A (BPA, on hormonal and metabolic pathways in the pituitary and liver of female Atlantic cod. The researchers found that both chemicals significantly impact reproductive and metabolic functions.They observed that the expression of key genes involved in hormonal regulation and metabolic homeostasis was altered in the pituitary, while the liver exhibited changes related to triglyceride synthesis, highlighting the systemic influence of these contaminants.Thomas, Fat, and Kearns, in a perspective article, critically examined the environmental and human health risks associated with sunscreen ingredients.They raise concerns over chemicals, such as butylparaben, oxybenzone, and The research compiled in this Topic upholds the ecological and evolutionary significance of endocrine disruption in marine systems. Given the central role of hormones in homeostatic regulation, disruptions at this level can reverberate through biological hierarchies, from molecular signalling to community dynamics. Moreover, the combined effects of contaminants and climate stressors may act synergistically, reducing the adaptive capacity of marine organisms.As a brief closing remark to this research topic, it is important to highlight that future studies should prioritize the following areas to further complement this field of investigation:• Longitudinal and multigenerational studies to assess chronic effects and transgenerational inheritance of endocrine alterations;• Systems-level analyses integrating omics approaches for biomarker discovery;• Ecosystem-based modelling to predict population and community-level outcomes;• Policy-relevant frameworks for translating scientific findings into regulatory actions.Change Effects offers a timely synthesis of current knowledge on how anthropogenic pressures compromise endocrine function in marine organisms.By elucidating mechanisms, identifying sensitive taxa, and proposing mitigation strategies, the contributions collectively advance the field of marine ecotoxicology and support evidence-based conservation and policy-making. As anthropogenic stressors intensify, the integration of endocrine disruption into marine environmental assessments will be critical for the protection of marine biodiversity and ecosystem function.