title: Prioritization of contaminated watercourses using an integrated biomarker approach in caged carp.
abstract: Because of the ever increasing complexity of environmental contamination profiles, there are limitations to the use of analytical pollutant measurements for monitoring and prioritization of watercourses. The potential of biomarkers has been debated for many years, especially in laboratory settings, but there is a need for studies evaluating these approaches in the field. We evaluated the usefulness of a selection of biomarkers, mostly indicators of general physiological status and common stress responses such as oxidative stress, to discriminate among environmental pollution profiles, with the aim of prioritizing contaminated watercourses for targeted remediation efforts. To this end, juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio Lin.) were exposed in cages in the field to Flemish watercourses with varying pollution profiles. After six weeks of exposure, the bioaccumulation of key pollutants was measured, and a set of organismal, biochemical and transcriptional endpoints was determined in several tissue types. After data integration a discrete set of 14 parameters was identified, that could successfully distinguish all watercourses from each other. We show that an integrated biomarker approach, mainly targeting common stress responses, can offer the resolving power to discriminate among environmentally relevant exposure scenarios, and a means to prioritize watercourses for targeted remediation.
authors.affiliation: Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research (SPHERE), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium; Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research (IMPRES), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium. Electronic address: sebastjen.schoenaers@uantwerpen.be.
authors.forename: Sébastjen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schoenaers
authors.affiliation: Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vergauwen
authors.affiliation: Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hagenaars
authors.affiliation: Research Group of Veterinary Public Health and Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vanhaecke
authors.affiliation: Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research (IMPRES), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium; Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Beni-Suef, Beni-Suef 62511, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hamada
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: AbdElgawad
authors.affiliation: Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research (IMPRES), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Asard
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Covaci
authors.affiliation: Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research (SPHERE), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lieven
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bervoets
authors.affiliation: Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research (SPHERE), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dries
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Knapen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D002347:Carps; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D018384:Oxidative Stress
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Biomarkers; Common carp; Environmental pollution; Field exposure; Prioritization