Animal Biomarkers as Pollution Indicators

Zusatztext

Ecotoxicology is a relatively new scientific discipline. Indeed, it might be argued that it is only during the last 5-10 years that it has come to merit being regarded as a true science, rather than a collection of procedures for protecting the environment through management and monitoring of pollutant discharges into the environment. The term 'ecotoxicology' was first coined in the late sixties by Prof. Truhaut, a toxicologist who had the vision to recognize the importance of investigating the fate and effects of chemicals in ecosystems. At that time, ecotoxicology was considered a sub-discipline of medical toxicology. Subsequently, several attempts have been made to portray ecotoxicology in a more realistic light. Notably, both F. Moriarty (1988) and F. Ramade (1987) emphasized in their books the broad basis of ecotoxicology, encompassing chemical and radiation effects on all components of ecosystems. In doing so, they and others have shifted concern from direct chemical toxicity to man, to the far more subtle effects that pollutant chemicals exert on natural biota. Such effects potentially threaten the existence of all life on Earth. Although I have identified the sixties as the era when ecotoxicology was first conceived as a coherent subject area, it is important to acknowledge that studies that would now be regarded as ecotoxicological are much older. Wherever people's ingenuity has led them to change the face of nature significantly, it has not escaped them that a number of biological con sequences, often unfavourable, ensue.

Autorenportrait

Inhaltsangabe1 Scope and limitations of classical hazard assessment.- 1.1 The exposure side of the equation.- 1.1.1 Surveys and monitoring programmes.- 1.1.2 Wildlife health considerations.- 1.1.3 Human health considerations.- 1.1.4 Environmental quality.- 1.1.5 Design of monitoring programmes.- 1.2 The toxicity side of the equation.- 1.2.1 Broad studies of lethal levels.- 1.2.2 Tissue levels associated with mortality or indices of harm.- 1.3 Hazard assessment.- 2 Biomarkers of the nervous system.- 2.1 Esterase inhibition.- 2.1.1 Classification of esterases.- 2.1.2 Mode of action.- 2.1.3 Factors affecting activity.- 2.1.4 Direct mortality caused by Cholinesterase inhibitors.- 2.1.5 Summary of experimental studies.- 2.1.6 Relationship to other biomarkers.- 2.1.7 Use of esterases as biomarkers.- 2.2 Biogenic amines.- 2.2.1 Introduction.- 2.2.2 Summary of experimental studies.- 2.2.3 Factors influencing activity.- 2.2.4 Relationship to other biomarkers.- 2.2.5 Use of biogenic amines as a biomarker.- 3 Biomarkers of the reproductive system.- 3.1 Studies of the breeding cycle.- 3.1.1 Introduction.- 3.1.2 Laboratory experiments.- 3.1.3 Experimental field studies.- 3.1.4 Observations on untreated individuals.- 3.2 Studies on embryos.- 3.3 Hormones.- 3.3.1 Effects of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons.- 3.3.2 Effects of organophosphates.- 3.3.3 Effects of oil.- 3.3.4 Receptors.- 3.3.5 Summary.- 4 Studies on genetic material.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 RNA/DNA ratio.- 4.3 DNA adducts.- 4.4 DNA strand breakage.- 4.5 Degree of methylation of DNA.- 4.6 Sister chromatid exchange.- 4.7 Use of genetic material in monitoring.- 5 Mixed function oxidases.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Nomenclature.- 5.3 General description of the system.- 5.4 Factors influencing activity.- 5.5 Interactions with other biomarkers.- 5.6 Mechanism of action, receptors and dioxin equivalents.- 5.7 Use of mixed function oxidases as biomarkers.- 6 Thyroid function, retinols, haem and regulatory enzymes.- 6.1 Thyroid function.- 6.1.1 Introduction.- 6.1.2 Summary of experimental data.- 6.1.3 Factors influencing activity.- 6.1.4 Interactions with (or relationship to) other biomarkers.- 6.1.5 Use of thyroid function as a biomarker.- 6.2 Vitamin A (retinoids).- 6.2.1 Introduction.- 6.2.2 Summary of experimental data.- 6.2.3 Factors influencing activity.- 6.2.4 Interactions with other biomarkers.- 6.2.5 Use of retinoids as biomarkers.- 6.3 Haem, porphyrins and inhibition of aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) by lead.- 6.3.1 Porphyrins: an introduction.- 6.3.2 Summary of experimental studies.- 6.3.3 Interrelationship with other biomarkers.- 6.3.4 Use of porphyrins as biomarkers.- 6.3.5 Inhibition of ALAD by lead.- 6.3.6 Factors affecting ALAD activity.- 6.3.7 Interaction with other biomarkers.- 6.3.8 Use of ALAD as a biomarker.- 6.4 Enzyme activity.- 6.4.1 Introduction.- 6.4.2 Amino acid metabolism.- 6.4.3 Carbohydrate metabolism: glycolysis.- 6.4.4 Oxidative phosphorylation.- 6.4.5 Phosphatases.- 6.4.6 Use of enzyme activity as a biomarker.- 7 Behavioural effects: their relationship to physiological changes.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Types of tests used.- 7.3 Behavioural effects of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons.- 7.4 Behavioural effects of organophosphates.- 7.5 Behavioural effects of heavy metals and other pollutants.- 7.6 Relationship of behavioural effects to biomarkers.- 8 Environmental immunotoxicology.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 The immune system as a target for xenobiotic interaction.- 8.2.1 Immunodeficiency and immunosuppression.- 8.2.2 Altered host resistance to infections.- 8.2.3 Hypersensitivity, allergy and pseudoallergy.- 8.2.4 Autoimmunity.- 8.2.5 Immunopotentiation.- 8.3 Relationship of immunotoxicology and other toxic effects.- 8.3.1 Immunotoxicity and hepatotoxicity.- 8.3.2 Immunotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.- 8.3.3 Immunotoxicity and neurotoxicity.- 8.3.4 Immunotoxicity and impairment of metabolism/ detoxification.- 8.3.5 Immunosuppression and mutagenicity/carcinogenic

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