bioavailability

ENNSATOX is a small collaborative project, funded by the EU under the 7th Framework's NMP Theme.

This field based study investigates to which extent sediment-bound metals are bioavailable to different groups of aquatic invertebrates and what effect this will have on the macroinvertebrate communit

Heavy metals occur naturally in the environment as constituents of the earth's crust. They fulfil the criteria of persistence: the law of conservation of matter ensures that the elemental material can neither be destroyed nor produced. The total amount of metals in the environment is therefore constant. However, due to anthropogenic activities (mining, agricultural activities, waste disposals, fuel combustions) metal distribution patterns can be rearranged, resulting in site specific elevated concentrations.

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.

The genetic population structure of natural populations of the indirect developing (i.e. planctonic development) periwinkle, Littorina littorea and of the direct developer (i.e. non-planctonic development) L.