Use of Biomarkers in Oil Spill Risk Assessment in the marine environment
Numerous molecular, cellular and physiological biomarkers have been used to assess the responses of marine animals to petroleum compounds. To be used in ecological risk assessment after an oil spill, a biomarker response needs to be linked to petroleum exposure and not strongly influenced by internal and external confounding factors. Biomarker responses to petroleum PAH, dominated by alkylated two- and three-ringed aromatics, can be quite different than responses to pyrogenic PAH, dominated by four- and five-ringed aromatics. In many field sites there is a mixture of petrogenic and pyrogenic PAH, along with other contaminant, making it difficult to relate biomarker responses to a particular contaminant class. Biomarkers used to assess marine animal responses in the field include the cytochrome P450 system, heat stress protein, histopathology and bile fluorescent compounds (FAC). Other biomarkers, including DNA/chromosomal damage and phase 2 enzymes, have been shown to respond after laboratory exposure, but more works needs to be done to demonstrate their usefulness in the field. One of the most useful biomarkers of petroleum exposure are the FAC responses in fish, which can be used to distinguish between petrogenic and pyrogenic PAH exposure. Few of the presently used biomarkers are linked to higher order biological effects, e.g toxicity, reproductive failure.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 896687
- Report Number(s):
- PNWD-SA-7041; TRN: US200703%%806
- Journal Information:
- Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, 12(6):1192-1222, Journal Name: Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, 12(6):1192-1222
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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