![]() (a) Human survival depends on the availability of clean air, water, and food and on the welfare of plants and animals and The study of environmental toxicology stems from the recognition that: Environmental toxicants are agents released into the general environment that may cause adverse effects on health.Įcotoxicology is concerned with the effects of environmental toxicants on the health of organisms living in the natural environment.Double-crested cormorants sit low in the water, a trait that helps distinguish them from other waterfowl. (b) Anthropogenic and naturally occurring chemicals can cause adverse effects on living organisms and ecological processes.Įnvironmental toxicology is a multidisciplinary science that encompasses several diverse areas of study that focuses on how environmental toxicants, through their interaction with humans, animals, and plants, influence the health and welfare of organisms. Related areas include biology chemistry (inorganic, organic and analytical chemistry) anatomy genetics physiology ecology soil and water. Over the decades, the concept of biomarkers has had a major impact in environmental sciences. The term is related to biological changes that can be observed in organisms under stress conditions that are either natural or environmental. The biomarker techniques covered in this handbook draws on different areas of biology: biochemistry, physiology, histology, and is studied at various organismal levels such as the molecular, cellular, physiological, organism, population, community or ecosystem. This handbook emphasizes rapid, uncomplicated methods for assessing ecological, habitat, organismal and chemical integrity of marine habitats of Singapore. It provides fundamental information concerning the establishment of survey techniques for chemical analysis of environmental toxicants, and biomarker assessment of fitness parameters from invertebrate organisms. This book is intended to be of use to the general public, schools or policy makers, by providing a pragmatic approach to the use of biomarkers in the marine environment, and the implementation of a biomarker-based monitoring program. ![]() More generally, scientists in governmental agencies who have responsibilities at both the national and international levels will find a comprehensive list of techniques to set up a monitoring programme that will provide comparable chronological records of environmental health parameters. Preface: When our first book: Handbook of Marine Ecotoxicology Techniques was published in 2014, its application in training aspiring citizen scientists in ecotoxicology techniques for biomonitoring purposes was unanticipated. After four years of workshops involving teachers and pupils from Singapore schools, the book has impacted over 170 teachers and pupils from over 20 Secondary Schools, and personnel from various management agencies, tertiary institutions and the general public. ![]() We concluded that of the 12 biomarker assays detailed in the first book, six were the most useful for citizen science biomonitoring activities in Singapore. ![]() Hence, this book provides specific information and instructions on the application of six biomarker assays that may be used on marine invertebrates. ![]()
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