Environmental Contaminants as Significant Threats to Ecological Health: A Mini Review

Abstract

Environmental contamination has been established as one of the major global problems, posing a serious threat to ecological health and systems. These contaminants are spread through various channels, and find their way into the food chain via varying natural and anthropogenic sources and vary in concentrations within the ecosystems. The presence of these contaminants within the environment is majorly instigated by anthropogenic activities. The persistent accumulation and ubiquity of environmental contaminants in species, predisposes living organisms to toxicity effects. Hence, toxic effects of environmental contaminants to humans and animals include haemato-biochemical changes, immunosuppression, reduction in fitness, interference in reproduction, oxidative stress damage, genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, histopathological and behavioural alterations. There is need to curb levels of exposure to environmental contaminants through the promotion of eco-friendly activities that could enhance ecological health.