GESAMP: Atmospheric Input of Trace Species to the World Oceans - UNEP Regional Seas Reports and Studies No. 119. GESAMP Reports and Studies No. 38

The primary objectives of this paper are to assess the flux of those species that can have an impact on biological processes and on chemical cycling in the oceans. There are two types of biologically important species: those that are deleterious to organisms and those that are essential to growth. Certain metals such as Cd and Pb are known to be toxic to marine organisms, as are many synthetic organic species including the PCBs and a variety of pesticides.