Acidification and pollution are two important problems to the global marine ecosystem. They coexist to exert combined effects and functions on marine ecosystem. However, the relationship between those two factors is still unknown.

Dr. Xiangfeng Zeng and his group in our institute revealed the positive-feedback between marine acidification and marine pollution after reviewing and analyzing papers from the last 20 years. Marine acidification can increase the biotoxicity and bioavailability of heavy metals by altering their speciation, meanwhile reduce the degradation of organic pollutants. Marine pollutants, such as heavy metals and oils, could decrease the photosynthesis rate and increase the respiration rate of marine organisms as a result of biotoxicity and eutrophication, facilitating ocean acidification to varying degrees. The synergistic effects are more significant especially in the coastal zones. So, coastal pollution control is a potential tool for mitigating the risk of ocean acidification.

This work was supported by the strategic priority research program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDB14020204). The work has been widespread concerned after publication, and was selected as one of 20 Most Downloaded Articles with over 1500 times down-loaded in the first two quarters after publication.

Xiangfeng Zeng, Xijuan Chen, Jie Zhuang. A positive feedback between ocean acidification and pollution. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 2015. 91: 14-21

（ http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X14008029）.