A critique of biomarkers in environmental toxicology: A case study in birds
- Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)
The authors have been testing the hypothesis that exposure to elevated levels of 2,3,7,8-TCDD and similarly-acting compounds derived from pulp mill effluent adversely affects the reproductive capacity of colonies of great blue herons and double crested cormorants in the local area. Their objectives included developing quantitative TCDD dose-response curves for various toxicologically relevant endpoints in birds, with the goal of finding an appropriate environmental biomarker of dioxin exposure and toxicity. Potential biomarkers studied included ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) as a measure of cytochrome P-450 1-A activity, and various hormonally-relevant end-points as measures of dioxin toxicity. The animal model used was the newly hatched chick, after in ovo exposure either in the laboratory or from the environment. Because the TEQ approach is based to a large extent on the use of in vitro and in vivo biomarkers, this study provides a useful example of one of the simplest in vivo models. The authors were able to construct hepatic EROD dose-response curves from the environmentally exposed heron and cormorant chicks, and from TCDD egg injections both early and late in the incubation period. Domestic chicken and pigeons were used as control species. The EROD induction data from the late injection pigeon study was very helpful for predicting appropriate doses for use in the early injection experiments, and for the wild avian species. However, the data was too limited to use for accurately predicting such endpoints as mortality, or effects at the lower end of the dose-response curves. Using various toxic equivalency factors, TEQs for the environmental data were calculated, and compared to the laboratory derived dose-response curves for TCDD. Using specific examples from this environmental case study, the strengths and weaknesses of the use of biomarkers and the TEQ approach will be discussed.
- OSTI ID:
- 203621
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9511137-; ISBN 1-880611-03-1; TRN: IM9614%%133
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) world conference, Vancouver (Canada), 5-9 Nov 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Second SETAC world congress (16. annual meeting): Abstract book. Global environmental protection: Science, politics, and common sense; PB: 378 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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