Global Analysis of Biomarker Responses in Aquatic Organisms Exposed to Contaminants

Chemicals discharged into the environment may be taken up by aquatic organisms and elicit biological responses that can be used as biomarkers of exposure and/or effect. Depending on the site of action, they may be classified as neurotoxic, hepatotoxic, genotoxic, or hemato-immunotoxic biomarkers. Multiple molecular biomarker analysis can furnish a more precise diagnostic of effects induced by different classes of chemicals and provide a sensitive, physiologically based method of determining the presence of a contaminant and its bioavailability to aquatic organisms. This article addresses toxicity, mechanism of adaptation, as well as toxic damage induced by chemical exposure.