Biological markers of environmental contamination in marine ecosystems

Objective

- Development of a better knowledge about biological mechanisms developed by marine organisms in the coastal environment under the effects of contaminants by in vitro and in situ experiments.
- Investigation of the relationship between biochemical markers measured in marine organisms and chemical pollutants (aromatic compounds, polychlorobiphenyls, pesticides) determined in the marine environment (sediment, waters, biota).
- Characterization of the criteria and physiological/biochemical/cellular parameters for an efficient coastal contamination biomonitoring programme based on biomarkers.


Biological markers are measurements at the molecular, biochemical or cellular level in either wild populations from contaminated habitats or in organisms experimentally exposed to pollutants that indicate the magnitude of the organism's response to the contaminants.

Biomarkers of exposure (MFO systems, Acetylcholinesterase activity), biomarkers of pollutant effects (DNA adducts, DNA damages) and non-specific toxicity tests (immune response, phagocystis, reproduction parameters, Mutatox), will be studied in various marine/estuarine organisms (mussels, fish, marine plants, sea stars, sea urchins, crayfish). In addition, chemical measurements of organic pollutants associated to body burden (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PCE, pesticides) will be measured in sediments, waters and organisms to investigate relationships between chemical concentrations and biological effects.

Laboratory experiments will be performed to establish dose-dependent relationships between exposure, biomarker responses and toxic effects in sentinel species. A number of field sites (Western Scheldt estuary, Elbe estuary (North Sea), Arcachon Bay (Atlantic Ocean), Cannes Bay, Costa Dorada, Napoli Bay (Mediterranean Sea) have been selected to test the power of the biomarkers to identify the contribution of different levels and character of exposure.

Fields of science

• natural sciences › biological sciences › genetics › DNA
• natural sciences › chemical sciences › organic chemistry › hydrocarbons
• medical and health sciences › basic medicine › immunology
• natural sciences › biological sciences › ecology › ecosystems
• natural sciences › chemical sciences › organic chemistry › aromatic compounds

Programme(s)

• FP3-ENV 1C - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of the environment, 1990-1994

Topic(s)

• 040204 - Risks to health and the environment from chemical substances

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

Université de Bordeaux I

Address

351 Cours De La Libération
33405 Talence
France

Participants (6)

AquaSence Lab. BV

Netherlands

Address

411 A,kruislaan 411 A
1098 SJ Amsterdam

Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas

Spain

Address

18-26,jordi Girona 18-26
08034 Barcelona

Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori

Italy

Address

Via M. Semmola 12
80131 Napoli

NERC Centre of Coastal and Marine Sciences

United Kingdom

Address

Prospect Place West Hoe
PL1 3DH Plymouth

Technische Universität Berlin

Germany

Address

Goerzallee 253
14167 Berlin

Université de Nice - Sophia Antipolis

France

Address

Avenue De Vallombrose
06107 Nice