Avian Mixed Function Oxidase Induction as a Monitoring Device: The Influence of Normal Physiological Functions

Preface The purpose of this book is to provide an introduction to and review of the state-of -science concerning the use of biological markers in animals and plants as an innovative approach to evaluating the ecological and health effects of environmental contamination. Specifically, the book examines the status of research on the development, application, and validation of biological markers, either as indicators of exposure to toxic chemicals in the environment or as predictors of the adverse consequences of that exposure. 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 that the organism has been exposed to toxic chemicals, and the magnitude of the organism's response to the contaminant. Biological markers measured in wild animals can directly contribute to detecting, quantifying, and understanding the significance of exposure to chemicals in the environment. These measurements in environmental species may also help assess the potential for human exposure to environmental pollutants and for predicting the human health risks. The concept of using biological markers to evaluate biological hazards has attracted considerable attention from regulatory agencies and is currently under evaluation at a number of research facilities. NOAA is testing biological markers as a component of their National Trends and Status Program and EPA is implementing programs at their research laboratories for the development and application of biological markers at contaminated sites. The National Marine Fisheries Service Research Laboratory is exploring this approach as well as agencies in other countries including Canada, The Netherlands, Germany, and several Scandinavian Countries. The goal of research by these agencies is to validate the use of biological markers as sensitive, cost-effect tools for evaluating risk of environmental hazards and to implement biological monitoring as a component of their regulatory plans; for example, EPA's Environmental Research Lab-Narragansett has begun a preliminary investigation using biological markers to document pollution at Black Rock Harbor and New Bedford Harbor, EPA's Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory in Cincinnati has a biomarker research program evaluating biomarkers in contaminated streams, and biological markers are a component of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the Department of Energy facilities in Tennessee. The key to effective implementation of biomarker-based biomonitoring is the need to integrate the insights and expertise of specialists in a number of technical specialties. The purpose for this symposium, and the contribution of this book, is to provide a forum to bring together the insights of specialists in a range of technical fields that permits them to focus their expertise on questions of environmental contamination. Experts in the areas of histology, immunology, enzymology, and nucleic acid/protein chemistry gathered at the symposium to discuss the application of their methods and approaches to this problem. In addition, scientists involved in the more integrated field studies also discussed the advantages of biological monitoring and consideration in the interpretation of data from animals collected in the field. This book represents a unique and timely synthesis of state-of -the-science approaches to biological monitoring of environmental contamination. The book is intended to be of interest to a wide range of specialists. Different chapters provide overviews and recent research progress on the application and validation of biomarkers within a number o( technical specialties such as molecular biology, biochemistry, histology, and immunology are detailed. For tox- I icologists, the book provides an introduction to an innovative approach to assessing environmental contamination that also permits the toxicologist to advance fundamental understanding of the expression of toxicity on a molecular and cellular level. The chapter on the application of biomarker measurements to ecological risk analysis is, to our knowledge, the first attempt to place biomarkers within a risk analysis paradigm. More generally, though, scientists in government agencies, both national and international, will find this synthesis of biomarker methodologies applicable to their missions. Regulators will find this volume particularly interesting as a comprehensive and up-to-date discussion of this promising approach to assessing the potential for environmental risks associated with contamination. The editors wish to acknowledge and thank the Exploratory Studies Program of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory who provided funds to develop a research program in biomarkers at our facility. We also thank the senior management of the Environmental Sciences Division, David E. Reichle and Carl W. Gehrs, for their strong support and assistance as we brought together the interdisciplinary team needed to address the complex issues surrounding the development and application of biomarker-based biomonitoring. The ideas and approaches that underlie the organization and philosophy expressed in this book grew out of discussions and research among a team of individuals, including Marshall Adams, Larry Bamthouse, Rhonda Epler, Mark Greeley, Kitty Gustin, Braulio Jimenez, Deborah Millsap, Fred Sloop, and Glenn Suter. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory is operated by Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc., under Contract DE-ACO5-840R21400 with the U.S. Department of Energy. This is Publication No. 3518 of the Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.