Biomarkers in Marine Organisms
A Practical Approach

Many previous studies and books have been dedicated to fundamental and developmental aspects of biomarkers. The purpose of this book is to provide, through various case studies, an overview of the practical use of biological markers in marine animals to evaluate the health effects of environmental contamination in marine ecosystems.
More precisely, the book presents the results obtained during the development and application of biological markers as indicators of exposure/effect to toxic chemicals in marine environments, using diverse sentinel species such as fish, bivalves and crustaceans. An important aspect is also the publication of technical annexes that describe in detail the experimental procedures developed for both chemical and biochemical measurement.

Selected chapter headings. Induction of molluscan cytochrome P450 monooxygenase system as a biomarker of organic pollution in environmental monitoring. Sensitivity and specificity of metallothionein as a biomarker for aquatic environment biomonitoring. Biochemical markers in mussel, Mytilus sp., and pollution monitoring in European coasts: data analysis. Investigation of genotoxicity and immunotoxicity for monitoring marine pollution in the Baltic Sea and Mediterranean Sea. Isolation of cytochrome P450 CDNAS (CYP1A1 and CYP4T2) from the sea bass (Dicentrarchus Labrax): tools for biomonitoring sea pollution. Inhibitory effects of heavy metals on CYP1A1 induction in black seabream (Spondyliosoma Cantharus) hepatocyte cultures. Development of cytochrome P450 biomarkers from Posidinia Oceanica. Technical annexes.