Mechanisms of xenobiotic activation in marine invertebrates.

Introduction Despite the predominance of invertebrate phyla in the animal kingdom, relatively very little is known about the mechanisms whereby invertebrates activate xenobiotics to toxic products, especially in organisms other than insects. Aquatic invertebrates are particularly susceptible to contaminant exposure and, to predict the risk to these organisms it is important to gain an understanding of the biochemical mechanisms of xenobiotic metabolism and toxicity.