The presence of organochlorinated pesticides in the marine environment of the Mediterranean Sea: A Systematic Review

Plant protection products, also known as pesticides, are chemical compounds that are used for the protcection of plants against pests, weeds and diseases which affect the quantinty and quality of agricultural products. The present study is a systematic review of the scientific literature regarding the scientific research on the presence of residual organochlorinated plant protection products (OCPs) concentrations in the Mediterranean Sea, which is an important semi-enclosed marine ecosystem of great biodiversity. Based on the gathered information derived from the collected and classified articles, useful conclusions, and observations are reported about research trends. Furthermore, knowledge gaps in the current research are highlighted and suggestions for future research on this topic are also discussed.