Zebrafish

Abstract

This study investigates the importance of water and food as exposure sources of three model contaminants with different physico-chemical properties and modes of action to zebrafish. It is explored to what extend uptake via water or food results in different responses and toxic effects. The responses and effects are studied at molecular, cellular and organismal level using genomics, proteomics and physiological approaches. The project aims to provide a in depth understanding of how different substances interact with a model system taking into account key factors such as developmental stage, exposure route and exposure time. The results of the genomics and proteomics analysis should considerable enlarge our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of toxicity and defense.

This study investigates the importance of water and food as exposure sources of copper to zebrafish. (Danio rerio) It is explored to what extend uptake via water or food results in different responses and toxic effects.

During the production and after therapeutic use pharmaceutical compounds can enter the aquatic environment through industrial and household discharges. Indeed, pharmaceuticals are continually released into the environment wherever humans live. But until recently, very little attention has been paid on what happens to these these compounds after their administration or use. Human pharmaceuticals have ‘enjoyed’ several decades of unrestricted discharge to the environment. Over the last decade, the increasing number of reports on the occurrence of human pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment has raised public concern on the environmental risk of these compounds. The big unknown however, is whether the presence of low concentrations of human pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment can cause a serious threat. Currently, very little is known on the potential adverse effects of human pharmaceuticals on aquatic organisms, and there is a great need for relevant and specific ecotoxicological effect data in order to correctly assess the environmental risk of pharmaceutical compounds.