http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy/stc/biomonitoring_of_wetlands/biomonitoring_aquatic_ecosystem.pdf

Biomonitoring: An appealing tool for assessment of metal pollution in the aquatic ecosystem

In this review, recent developments in monitoring toxicological responses in estuarine animals are analyzed, considering the biomarker responses to different classes of pollutants. The estuarine environment imposes stressful conditions to the organisms that inhabit it, and this situation can alter their sensitivity to many pollutants. The specificity of some biomarkers like metallothionein tissue concentration is discussed in virtue of its dependence on salinity, which is highly variable in estuaries. Examples of cholinesterase activity measurements are also provided and criteria to select sensitive enzymes to detect pesticides and toxins are discussed. Regarding non-specific biomarkers, toxic responses in terms of antioxidant defenses and/or oxidative damage are also considered in this review, focusing on invertebrate species. In addition, the presence of an antioxidant gradient along the body of the estuarine polychaete Laeonereis acuta (Nereididae) and its relationship to different strategies, which deal with the generation of oxidative stress, is reviewed. Also, unusual antioxidant defenses against environmental pro-oxidants are discussed, including the mucus secreted by L. acuta. Disruption of osmoregulation by pollutants is of paramount importance in several estuarine species. In some cases such as in the estuarine crab Chasmagnathus granulatus, there is a trade off between bioavailability of toxicants (e.g. metals) and their interaction with key enzymes such as Na+–K+-ATPase and carbonic anhydrase. Thus, the metal effect on osmoregulation is also discussed in the present review. Finally, field case studies with fish species like the croaker Micropogonias furnieri (Scianidae) are used to illustrate the application of DNA damage and immunosuppressive responses as potential biomarkers of complex mixture of pollutants.

Pollution biomarkers in estuarine animals: critical review and new perspectives.

Application of the single-cell gel electrophoresis or comet assay has revolutionized the field of genetic ecotoxicology or eco-genotoxicology. It is a rapid, sensitive and relatively inexpensive method providing the opportunity to study DNA damage (including oxidative damage), repair and cell death (apoptosis) in different cell types without prior knowledge of karyotype and cell turnover rate. The assay has, however, often attracted criticism for its lack of ecotoxicological relevance. In addition, in contrast to genetic toxicology where rapid technical progress has been made to improve cell- and tissue-specific adoption of the assay, only limited advancement has been made to transfer the methodologies to ecotoxicological studies. While reviewing the recent information available in the literature and underscoring the importance of induced genetic damage in natural species, the aims of this article are to (i) highlight and judiciously analyse the ecotoxicological relevance of the assay; (ii) attempt to correlate the comet response with other relevant biological responses or biomarkers; (iii) identify the technical challenges and various factors affecting its application in order to make it reliable, reproducible and robust; (iv) critically compare the technical developments in genetic toxicology and genetic ecotoxicology and (v) evaluate the future developments with respect to applications of the assay. It is suggested that while complementing other ecotoxicological parameters and further improving the methodologies, the comet assay will continue to play an important role in genetic ecotoxicology to determine induced genetic damage, which has significant consequences for short- and long-term survival of the natural or wild species. Information obtained through integrated studies using simultaneous applications of multiple biomarkers on different wild organisms could also provide an holistic dimension of toxicological impact of environmental contaminants for the protection of human health.

/pdf/ecotoxicological-applications-and-significance-of-the-comet-1i32mo0302.pdf

Ecotoxicological applications and significance of the comet assay

This review considers the potential of the Comet assay (or Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis, SCGE) to evaluate the environmental impact of genotoxins in aquatic environments. It focuses on in vivo and in situ studies that have been carried out in various marine and freshwater sentinel species, published in the last 5 years. A large number of the studies reviewed report that the Comet assay is more sensitive when compared with other biomarkers commonly used in genetic ecotoxicology, such as sister chromatid exchanges or micronucleus test. Due to its high sensitivity, the Comet assay is widely influenced by laboratory procedures suggesting that standard protocols are required for both fish and mussel cells. However, there are still a wide variety of personalised Comet procedures evident in the literature reviewed, making comparison between published results often very difficult. Standardization and inter-laboratory calibration of the Comet assay as applied to aquatic species will be required if the Comet assay is to be used routinely by national bodies charged with monitoring water quality.

The Comet assay for the evaluation of genotoxic impact in aquatic environments.

Aquatic pollutants produce multiple consequences at organism, population, community and ecosystem level, affecting organ function, reproductive status, population size, species survival and thus biodiversity Among these, carcinogenic and mutagenic compounds are the most dangerous as their effects may exert a damage beyond that of individual and may be active through several generations The application of genotoxicity biomarkers in sentinel organisms allows for the assessment of mutagenic hazards and/or for the identification of the sources and fate of the contaminants Micronucleus (MN) test as an index of accumulated genetic damage during the lifespan of the cells is one of the most suitable techniques to identify integrated response to the complex mixture of contaminants MN assay is today widely applied in a large number of wild and transplanted aquatic species The large majority of studies or programmes on the genotoxic effect of the polluted water environment have been carried out with the use of bivalves and fish Haemocytes and gill cells are the target tissues most frequently considered for the MN determination in bivalves The MN test was widely validated and was successfully applied in a large number of field studies using bivalves from the genera Mytilus MN in fish can be visualised in different cell types: erythrocytes and gill, kidney, hepatic and fin cells The use of peripheral erythrocytes is more widely used because it avoids the complex cell preparation and the killing of the animals The MN test in fish erythrocytes was validated in laboratory with different species after exposure to a large number of genotoxic agents The erythrocyte MN test in fish was also widely and frequently applied for genotoxicity assessment of freshwater and marine environment in situ using native or caged animals following different periods of exposure Large interspecies differences in sensitivity for MN induction were observed Further validation studies are needed in order to better characterise the different types of nuclear alterations and to clarify the role of biotic and abiotic factors in interspecies and inter-individual variability

/pdf/micronucleus-assay-in-aquatic-animals-1ofg544kpc.pdf

Micronucleus assay in aquatic animals

Cellular biomarkers for monitoring estuarine environments: transplanted versus native mussels.

Cellular responses in the cyprinid Leuciscus cephalus from a contaminated freshwater ecosystem

Effects of algal extracts (Polysiphonia fucoides) on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): a biomarker approach.

Cellular responses in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) transplanted to the estuary of an impacted Italian river

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Cellular biomarkers for monitoring estuarine environments: transplanted versus native mussels.

Cellular responses in the cyprinid Leuciscus cephalus from a contaminated freshwater ecosystem

Effects of algal extracts (Polysiphonia fucoides) on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): a biomarker approach.

Cellular responses in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) transplanted to the estuary of an impacted Italian river