background: the indispensable use of agrochemicals has created serious threats for earthworms abundance and their population therefore, several earthworm protocols have gained acceptance for use in tests to assess the effects of soil chemicals on soil organisms. dichlorovos, an organophosphorus pesticide, is one of the widely used pesticides in agricultural fields of m.p., central india. the ai...

The emergence of analytical tools for high-throughput screening of biomolecules has revolutionized the way in which toxicologists explore the impact of chemicals or other stressors on organisms. One of the most developed and routinely applied high-throughput analysis approaches is transcriptomics, also often referred to as gene expression profiling. The transcriptome represents all RNA molecule...

The aim of this article is to attempt a concise review of the state of the art of the nondestructive biomarkers approach in vertebrates, establishing a consensus on the most useful and sensitive nondestructive biomarker techniques, and proposing research priorities for the development and validation of this promising methodology. The following topics are discussed: the advantages of the use of ...

There is mounting evidence that traditional investigations are no longer sufficient either to assess the ecological characteristics of a resource or to better understand the dynamics of an ecosystem. Reliable experimental data to be used for further investigation as well as for environmental corrective action are obtained using the traditional quantitative and qualitative biological methods. In...

1. Laboratory models Fish laboratory models covering different parts of the life cycle and different routes of exposure are continuously developed and modified in order to meet new challenges. The most important exposure routes are by injection, trough contaminated water or feed [1]. For laboratory studies zebrafish (Danio rerio), medaka (Oryzias latipes), fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) a...

Genetic ecotoxicology is a multifaceted discipline that examines the effects of xenobiotic compounds on the structure and function of DNA. This paper discusses the role of genetic ecotoxicology in environmental biomonitoring and risk assessment. Genetic ecotoxicology may include somatic effects (e.g., DNA damage) or population genetic effects (changes in genetic diversity or gene frequencies). ...