EROD activity
|
Biotransformation enzyme induced by planar hydrocarbon
|
PCBs, PAHs and dioxin-like compounds
|
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity
|
Enzyme implicated in nervous transmission
|
Organophosphates, carbamates and similar molecules
|
Vitellogenin (VTG) in male fish
|
A precursor of egg yolk, normally synthesized by female fish
|
estrogenic endocrine disrupting compounds
|
Metallothionein (MT)
|
Metal scavenger implicated in protection against oxidative stress
|
Heavy metals and inducer of oxidative stress
|
Amino-levulinic acid deshydratase (ALAD)
|
Enzyme implicated in amino-acid metabolism
|
Lead exposure
|
Lysosomal stability
|
General health, lysosomes play a key role in liver injury caused by various xenobiotics
|
Several classes of pollutants, including PAH, inducer of oxidative stress, metals and organochlorines
|
DNA adducts
|
Alteration of DNA structure able to disturb DNA function
|
Genotoxic compounds including PAHs and other synthetic organic compounds
|
Imposex biomarkers (e.g. VDSI) in molluscs
|
Imposition of male sex characteristics on female molluscs
|
TBT
|
PAH bile metabolites
|
PAH metabolites in bile/urine represent the final stage of the biotransformation process
|
Indirect indicator of PAH exposure
|
Liver histopathology
|
General indication about liver damage but can be diagnostic depending on the type of lesion
|
PAHs
|
Macroscopic liver neoplasms
|
Visible fish liver tumours
|
Cancer inducing substances; PAHs
|
Externally visible fish diseases
|
Overall organism health External investigations of fish, significant changes indicate chronic stress
|
Several classes of pollutants and pathogens
|
Intersex in fish
|
Presence of ovarian tissue in male fish gonads compromising reproductive capacity
|
estrogenic endocrine disrupting compounds
|
Micronucleus
|
Damage to genetic material of organisms; could affect their health and potentially also their offspring.
|
Substances causing chromosomal aberrations (clastogens)
|
Amphipod/fish embryo alterations
|
Embryo malformations (viviparous organisms)
|
Overall organism health; strong correlation observed between malformed embryos and concentrations of metals and organic compounds
|
Stress proteins
|
Early stage effects, including oxidative stress
|
Responds to many types of stress factors
|
Benthic diatom malformations
|
Malformations; overall organism health
|
Significant response to metals and several pesticides, but less to other priority substances
|
Comet assay
|
Sensitive tool to detect genetic damage
|
Substances causing DNA strand breaks
|
Mussel histopathology (gametogenesis)
|
Histological studies of, e.g. digestive gland and tube
|
Many groups of substances, including PAHs, PCBs and heavy metals
|
Stress on stress
|
Survival in air
|
Many groups of substances, including crude oil, copper ions and PCBs
|
Scope for Growth
|
Measures alterations in the energy available for growth and reproduction.
|
Many groups of substances, including di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), aromatics, pentachlorophenol (PCP), copper, TBT and dichlorvos
|