Lithium: an unexpected link between marine and human health

A metal under scrutiny

The intensive extraction and increasing use of lithium raises questions about its long-term impact on marine ecosystems.
Nathalie Vigier, a researcher at the Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche-sur-Mer (LOV), is looking into the role of lithium in biological processes, and in particular its toxicological impact on marine ecosystems.

But what is the point of this research?
It enables us to assess the influence of lithium on marine and coastal species in these areas.
And what do the results show?
The results show that filter-feeding organisms, such as mussels and oysters, accumulate more lithium.

Tools to anticipate lithium pollution

They have modeled the contamination of coastal ecosystems to anticipate the effects of an increase in lithium in the oceans, and assess its potential impact on marine biodiversity, both locally and globally. This work was presented in June 2025 at the scientific congress preceding the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), and is essential for guiding conservation and management policies for aquatic environments.
Lithium, which has been used for decades in medicine to treat bipolar disorders, acts on the regulation of neurotransmitters in the brain. Researchers are analyzing its biological effects, in particular its ionic transport at cellular level, in order to optimize treatments and reduce side effects.
By combining geochemistry, biology, oceanography, physics and medicine, these teams hope to better understand and manage the impact of lithium on both ocean and human health.