The tropical zone contains the highest diversity of fish species on the planet. Many of these species are being continuously exposed to pollutants that pose serious hazards to fish health thereby posing serious risks for entire fish populations. This book presents information about the different responses of fish to pollutants from the molecular le

Nondestructive Biomarkers in Vertebrates presents an innovative approach for hazard assessment in vertebrates based on nondestructive rather than destructive methods. The book reviews the state of the art and defines the development and validation procedure of this new strategy. Biological materials, such as blood samples, epithelial tissue, eggs, feathers, and feces that can be obtained without stress or damage to the animal are suggested. Certain traditional studies (blood esterases, blood chemistry, mixed function oxidases, porphyrins, DNA damage, and cytological changes) can be performed on these specimens, along with new tests requiring only very small samples. This approach is developed to benefit protected, threatened species whose existence cannot be further jeopardized by the use of destructive methods. This volume will be particularly useful to ecotoxicologists, wildlife protection personnel, environmental consultants, and conservationist organizations.

This book will deal with heat shock proteins and more generally with stress-related inducible gene expression as a pleiotropic adaptive response to stress. It presents a textbook-like overview of the field not only to heat shock experts, but to physiologists, pharmacologists, physicians, neuropsychologists and others as well. It is intended to be a state-of-the-art and perspective book rather than an up-to-date presentation of recent data. It should provide a basis for new experimental approaches to fields at the edge of the classical heat shock field. Drugs, UV irradiation and environmental toxics will considered as important modulators of the stress response. Radical scavengers such as superoxide dismutases and inducible regulatory proteins of metallic ion status such as ferritin as well as immunophilins and protein disulfide isomerases will be considered within the frame of stress proteins. The potential practical applications of heat shock proteins in toxicology and medicine for the diagnosis, prognosis and eventually therapy of clinical conditions associated with an increased oxidative burden will be outlined. The role of heat shock proteins in the modulation of immune responses will also be included. The book considers heat shock from a broad perspective including fields for which heat-shock may become of importance in the very near future such as cellular responses to environmental stresses and complex stress responses under specific conditions. It was also felt timely to incorporate a whole section on medical and technological applications of stress proteins.

Environmental Metabolomics Applications in Field and Laboratory Studies: From the Exposome to the Metabolome presents an overview of the current state of aquatic environments and problems caused by human pressure and daily life. The presence of contaminants in nature and their effects are evaluated, along with recommendations for preservation. This book not only shows readers how to implement techniques, it also guides them through the process. As metabolomics becomes a more routine technique for environmental studies and future perspectives, a guide for validation and globalization of current approaches is needed.

Biological markers used to assess the effects of environmental pollution have attracted considerable attention from regulatory agencies and are currently under evaluation at a number of research facilities throughout the world. However promising a biomarker-based biomonitoring approach may be, the development of this concept is complicated by a range of technical issues. This book provides a conceptional framework for research and application of biomarkers. International experts on biomonitoring have formulated a unified strategy for the development and validation of biomarkers in assessing environmental health as well as appropriate protocols for their implementation and interpretation in a biological monitoring program.

How can biological markers help assess and predict human health risks? Find out the answers to this question and others in this timely new book examining the use of biological markers in animals and plants for evaluating the ecological and health effects of environmental contamination. The book explains the concept of environmental sentinels, presents example of field studies and discusses the utility of biomarkers within a risk analysis paradigm. Anyone who needs to know how to assess and predict environmental contamination should consider this book essential reading.

Does a change, which affects a few biological macro-molecules, some cells, or a few individuals within a population, have any ecological significance that would allow the prediction of deleterious effects at higher levels of biological organization, namely the population, community, and ultimately the ecosystem? With contributions from experts in t

Biomonitoring—a method for measuring amounts of toxic chemicals in human tissues—is a valuable tool for studying potentially harmful environmental chemicals. Biomonitoring data have been used to confirm exposures to chemicals and validate public health policies. For example, population biomonitoring data showing high blood lead concentrations resulted in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) regulatory reduction of lead in gasoline; biomonitoring data confirmed a resultant drop in blood lead concentrations. Despite recent advances, the science needed to understand the implications of the biomonitoring data for human health is still in its nascent stages. Use of the data also raises communication and ethical challenges. In response to a congressional request, EPA asked the National Research Council to address those challenges in an independent study. Human Biomonitoring for Environmental Chemicals provides a framework for improving the use of biomonitoring data including developing and using biomarkers (measures of exposure), research to improve the interpretation of data, ways to communicate findings to the public, and a review of ethical issues.

With its 104 chapters, this Encyclopedia of aquatic ecotoxicology reveals the diversity of issues, problems and challenges that have faced, and are facing today, receiving environments. It also indicates ways by which tools, strategies and future investigations can contribute to correct, minimize, solve and prevent water quality degradation. Structured homogeneously, the chapters convey salient information on historical background, features, characteristics, uses and/or applications of treated topics, often complemented by illustrations and case studies, as well as by conclusions and prospects. This work is most suitable for teaching purposes. Academics, for example, could literally deliver comprehensive lectures to students simply based on chapter outlines and contents. Meet the Authors of the Encyclopedia! Check out 'Meet the Authors' under ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Right menu).