Blue Spaces: Linking Ocean Health to Human Health
Gert Everaert, Flanders Marine Institute; Jana Asselman, Ghent University; Manuel Soto, University of the Basque Country; and Matthew White.
A growing body of science suggests that ocean health and human health have pivotal interactions and feedback loops that SETAC members are uniquely positioned to investigate. At the SETAC Europe 35th Annual Meeting in Vienna this May, the session “Health and Well-Being Effects of Blue Spaces: The Ocean-Human Health Nexus in an Ocean Under Stress” united (eco)toxicologists, public health researchers, marine scientists and other stakeholders in a lively dialogue on the dual role of the marine environment: a source of health and well-being but also a potential vector for pollution-linked health threats.
The session featured six studies exploring everything from sea spray aerosols to soundscapes and from wearable sensors to virtual beaches. The common thread was a drive to balance the potential benefits of ocean exposure with the environmental realities of anthropogenic contaminants, including microplastics, PFAS and antibiotic-resistant genes.
Registered participants of the SETAC Europe 35th Annual Meeting can access on-demand content through the meeting platform for three months after the meeting, until 15 August.
Between Cure and Contaminant
Let’s begin with the benefits—what some call “blue health.” Across Europe and beyond, people flock to the coast seeking relaxation, exercise and community. Based on a review of fifteen 15 years of ocean and human health research, the evidence is growing: Exposure to blue spaces can enhance mental health, reduce stress and support cognitive function. Sea spray aerosols carrying inorganic salts, microbiota and their bioactive compounds may specifically impact human health. In vitro studies suggest that sea spray aerosols may modulate mTOR signaling, with downstream effects on inflammation and disease, but the exact chemical complexity often remains unclear. This chemical complexity is precisely where SETAC’s toolkit – exposure science, effect concentration and risk assessment – can make a difference.
Understanding the Human–Ocean Interface
The session also dug deep into social determinants of blue space exposure. Who gets to visit the coast – and how often – can shape both benefit and burden. A large survey in mapped visitor behavior found five distinct social–ecological user types. Their emotional and physiological responses to the coast differ, influenced by, for example age, social capital and household situation. In additional to this survey, an online video experiment examined how different combinations of green-blue landscapes and urban versus natural soundscapes affect emotions. Early data suggest that pairing natural visuals with natural sounds offers a synergistic boost to well-being—useful insight for those designing urban coastal parks or rehabilitating shorelines. Several posters applied innovative technologies to quantify blue space impacts more rigorously, including wearable sensors and 360° immersive lab experiments with human participants. These technologies are crucial to further disentangle the effects on human health particularly in large-scale human participant studies linked to environmental exposure.
One Health and Ocean Risk
Bringing the conversation full circle was the Plentzia Marine Station (UPV/EHU), whose work exemplifies a One Health approach. Their work tackles climate-linked health risks, antibiotic resistance and sustainable aquaculture, demonstrating how ocean health and human health are deeply entangled. Their efforts to establish a “Living Lab” in Plentzia Bay could serve as a model for other regions navigating pollution, food safety and ecosystem resilience.
Takeaways for SETAC Members
This session underscored an urgent message for the SETAC community: The health of our ocean is the health of our people. While blue spaces may promote well-being, they also represent emerging exposure pathways—not just for swimmers and surfers but for coastal residents, seafood consumers and even distant populations via atmospheric transport.
Future research must dig deeper into:
- Dose–response relationships for both beneficial and harmful exposures
- Bioactive compound identification in sea spray and seafood
- Cross-disciplinary collaboration to inform urban planning, marine policy and healthcare
As we confront rising seas, shifting coastlines and persistent pollution, SETAC’s expertise in environmental toxicology, chemistry and risk science will be vital in safeguarding both the healing and hazardous aspects of our oceans.
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