The application of histo-cytopathological biomarkers in marine pollution monitoring: a review.
During the past two decades, a variety of histopathological alterations in fish and bivalves have been developed and used as biomarkers in pollution monitoring. Some of these have been successfully adopted in major national monitoring programmes, while others, although show promise, are still in the experimental stage. This paper critically reviews the scientific basis, cause and effect relationship, reliability, advantages and limitations of 14 histo-cytopathological biomarkers. The usefulness and practical application of each biomarker have been evaluated against a number of objective criteria including: ecological relevance, sensitivity, specificity, dose-response relationship, confounding factors, technical difficulties and cost-effectiveness.
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Centre of Coastal Pollution and Conservation, Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong. bhdwtau@cityu.edu.hk
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D002477:Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D005399:Fishes / Q000002:abnormalities*; D008974:Mollusca / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000032:analysis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D014873:Water Pollutants