Invertebrates biomarkers

Cyprid major protein is a larval storage protein necessary for successful metamorphosis. " Production of cyprid major protein was increased in the barnacle Balanus amphitrite following exposure to both nonylphenol and estradiol, suggesting that it may be a potential biomarker of estrogen exposure in invertebrates such as barnacles. " "... 

Damasio J, Tauler R, Teixido E, Rieradevall M, Prat N, Riva MC, Soares AMVM, Barata C (2008) Combined use of Daphnia magna in situ bioassays, biomarkers and biological indices to diagnose and identify environmental pressures on invertebrate communities in two Mediterranean urbanized and industrialized rivers (NE Spain). Aquat Toxicol 87 (4) 310-320... 

The effects of Flix sediment pollution on invertebrates were examined at two levels. Local populations of zebra mussels and crayfish (P. clarkii) were sampled right over the Flix residue sediment, across the reservoir, in a meander immediately downstream the dam and in Asco, in addition to the Riba-roja reference site (Fig. 5a, b). Results from a battery of biochemical biomarkers (Fig. 5c) were similar... 

Amiard JC, Amiard-Triquet C, Barka S, Pellerin J, Rainbow PS (2006) Metallothioneins in aquatic invertebrates their role in metal detoxification and their use as biomarkers. Aquat Toxicol 76(2) 160-202... 

Numerous and disparate copper criteria are proposed for protecting the health of agricultural crops, aquatic life, terrestrial invertebrates, poultry, laboratory white rats, and humans (Table 3.8) however, no copper criteria are now available for protection of avian and mammalian wildlife, and this needs to be rectified. Several of the proposed criteria do not adequately protect sensitive species of plants and animals and need to be reexamined. Other research areas that merit additional effort include biomarkers of early copper stress copper interactions with interrelated trace elements in cases of deficiency and excess copper status effects on disease resistance, cancer, mutagenicity, and birth defects mechanisms of copper tolerance or acclimatization and chemical speciation of copper, including measurement of flux rates of ionic copper from metallic copper. 

A Comparison with Vertebrate Testing Systems (US EPA Subdivision M Assessment Guidelines) with Biomarkers of ImmunotoxicityThat Have Been Developed and Applied to Different Invertebrate Species... 

Perez, E., J. Blasco, and M. Sole. 2004. Biomarker responses to pollution in two invertebrate species Scrobicularia plana and Nereis diversicolor from the Cadiz Bay (SW Spain). Mar. Environ. Res. 58 275-279. 

Hyne RV, Maher WA. 2003. Invertebrate biomarkers links to toxicosis that predict population decline. Ecotoxicol Environ Safety 54 366-374. 

Kammenga J, Dallinger R, Donker MH, Kohler HR, Simonsen V, Triebskom R, Weeks JM. 2000. Biomarkers in terrestrial invertebrates potential and limitations for ecotoxicologi-cal soil risk assessment. Rev Environ Contam Toxicol 164 93-147. 

Human health biomonitoring may also use animal surrogates in the environment to assess potential health hazards to humans - the proverbial canary in the coal mine . For example, chemical and biomarker analysis of bodily fluids or tissue biopsies from family pets, especially dogs, are sometimes used to assess potential chemical exposure and effects in children. This is because dogs often accompany children in the outdoor environment, and both have a tendency to (accidentally or intentionally) consume environmental media such as soil and surface water There has also been an increasing trend to use native animals as sentinel species, that is, fish, wildlife, or invertebrates that are indicators of possible human health risks from environmental hazards. For example, increased incidences of tumors or endocrine disruption in fish may indicate the presence of compounds in the water that may cause cancer or reproductive dysfunction in humans. Concern has also been raised over the increased incidence of deformities in frogs, because these may indicate an increased level of chemicals in the environment, which can cause birth defects in humans. 

When effects of pollutants are seen at the community or ecosystem levels, it may be too late to start reclamation activities, which become inefficient and extremely costly. That is why invertebrates have been effectively used as sources of biomarkers. They can be extrapolated to actual or potential changes at the population level, and considered as predictive tools to assess changes and consequences on community and ecosystem levels. Only some biomarkers identified in invertebrates are highly specific and sensitive, the majority are less specific to chemicals and then indicate the exposure or toxic effects of their mixture. In invertebrates biomarkers can be used as the diagnostic tools of their health or would give the basis for predicting the fate of stressed environment and to start remediation activities. 

The utility of antioxidants in terrestrial animals has received relatively little attention so far. In earthworms, inhibition of CAT and glutathione peroxidase but not SOD have been demonstrated in E.fetida exposed to lead and uranium (Labrot et al., 1996). However, SOD and CAT activity were not induced in E. veneta and E.fetida exposed to Zn, Cu and Hg and the herbicide paraquat (Honsi et al., 1999). Antioxidant enzyme measurement therefore cannot be considered a reliable biomarker of exposure in soil invertebrates. 

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