ABSTRACT
Nondestructive Biomarkers in Vertebrates presents an innovative approach for hazard assessment in vertebrates based on nondestructive rather than destructive methods. The book reviews the state of the art and defines the development and validation procedure of this new strategy. Biological materials, such as blood samples, epithelial tissue, eggs, feathers, and feces that can be obtained without stress or damage to the animal are suggested. Certain traditional studies (blood esterases, blood chemistry, mixed function oxidases, porphyrins, DNA damage, and cytological changes) can be performed on these specimens, along with new tests requiring only very small samples. This approach is developed to benefit protected, threatened species whose existence cannot be further jeopardized by the use of destructive methods. This volume will be particularly useful to ecotoxicologists, wildlife protection personnel, environmental consultants, and conservationist organizations.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
section Section One|34 pages
Overview
chapter Chapter 1|32 pages
The Use of Nondestructive Biomarkers in the Hazard Assessments of Vertebrate Populations
section Section Two|55 pages
Enzymatic Biomarkers
chapter Chapter 2|26 pages
Blood Esterases as Indicators of Exposure to Organophosphorus and Carbamate Insecticides
section Section Three|38 pages
Metabolic Products as Biomarkers
chapter Chapter 4|36 pages
Porphyrins as “Nondestructive” Indicators of Exposure to Environmental Pollutants
section Section Four|40 pages
Genotoxic Responses
chapter Chapter 6|11 pages
Genotoxic Responses in Blood Detected by Cytogenetic and Cytometric Assays
section Section Five|29 pages
Cellular Biomarkers
section Section Six|18 pages
Biomarkers in Eggs
section Section Seven|51 pages
Biomarkers in Studies of Endangered Species: Marine Mammals
chapter Chapter 11|23 pages
Assessment of Organochlorine Pollutants in Cetaceans by Means of Skin and Hypodermic Biopsies
section Section Eight|56 pages
Remarks on Nondestructive Biomarkers