- Oil and gas extraction in the Arctic can release toxic compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) into local waterways, impacting marine life, particularly fish like the navaga cod.
- A study focused on the specific PAH 3-methyl-phenanthrene (3-MP) revealed that it negatively affects the electrical excitability of navaga cod heart cells, especially at lower temperatures (9°C and 15°C) but not at 21°C.
- The combined effects of high temperatures and elevated potassium levels in the environment can worsen the impact of 3-MP on cardiac function, highlighting the complex interactions between temperature, potassium concentration, and PAH toxicity on fish health.