Significance of adverse outcome pathways in biomarker-based environmental risk assessment in aquatic organisms.
In environmental risk assessments (ERA), biomarkers have been widely used as an early warning signal of environmental contamination. However, biomarker responses have limitation due to its low relevance to adverse outcomes (e.g., fluctuations in community structure, decreases in population size, and other similar ecobiologically relevant indicators of community structure and function). To mitigate these limitations, the concept of adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) was developed. An AOP is an analytical, sequentially progressive pathway that links a molecular initiating event (MIE) to an adverse outcome. Recently, AOPs have been recognized as a potential informational tool by which the implications of molecular biomarkers in ERA can be better understood. To demonstrate the utility of AOPs in biomarker-based ERA, here we discuss a series of three different biological repercussions caused by exposure to benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and selenium (Se). Using mainly aquatic invertebrates and selected vertebrates as model species, we focus on the development of the AOP concept. Aquatic organisms are suitable bioindicator species whose entire lifespans can be observed over a short period; moreover, these species can be studied on the molecular and population levels. Also, interspecific differences between aquatic organisms are important to consider in an AOP framework, since these differences are an integral part of the natural environment. The development of an environmental pollutant-mediated AOP may enable a better understanding of the effects of environmental pollutants in different scenarios in the diverse community of an ecosystem.
Department of Biological Science, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, South Korea.
Jin Wuk
JW
Lee
Department of Biological Science, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, South Korea.
Eun-Ji
EJ
Won
Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Hamdard University, New Delhi 110062, India.
Sheikh
S
Raisuddin
Department of Biological Science, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, South Korea. Electronic address: jslee2@skku.edu.
Jae-Seong
JS
Lee
D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000187:drug effects; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000633:toxicity; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005399:Fishes / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012643:Selenium / Q000633:toxicity; D012834:Silver / Q000633:toxicity; D013723:Teratogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
D015415:Biomarkers; D013723:Teratogens; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene; D012834:Silver; D012643:Selenium
Adverse outcome pathway; Aquatic organisms; Biomarker; Environmental risk assessment; Interspecific difference; Omics