Biomarkers in aquatic macrophytes: Traditional and novel approaches to monitoring responses to exposure to pollutants.

MENONE, MIRTA LUJÁN; PÉREZ, DÉBORA J.

The Ecotoxicology of Aquatic Macrophytes

Springer Nature. Book Series: Environmental Contamination Remediation and Management

Año: 2023;

The present work is a compilation and a discussion of articles published from 2008 to date, focusing on physiological, biochemical, and genetic biomarkers in aquatic macrophytes, including those most frequently used methods as well as novel approaches. This review indicates that batteries of biomarkers mainly related to dysfunction of the photosynthetic process and to oxidative stress/damage have been applied for testing responses of aquatic macrophytes to a range of pollutants. These include metals, metalloids and organometals (METs), current use pesticides (CUPs), polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and contaminants of emerging concern, which includes pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), among others. Some research gaps emerged from the analysis of the literature, such as few ecotoxicological bioassays that evaluate the effects of environmental conditions (abiotic factors) on toxicity to macrophytes at realistic environmental concentrations). There is also a lack of studies focusing on marine species versus freshwater macrophytes. Traditional biomarkers like markers of oxidative stress and the content of photosynthetic pigments are still the most widely used methods. Other biomarkers related to the function of the mitochondrial electron transport chain and chlorophyll a fluorescence (Chl F) are also recommended. Novel molecular biomarkers (e.g., gene expression) have shown promising results. For most of the types of pollutants studied, batteries of biomarkers in bench-scale tests have demonstrated modes of action (MoAs) but there is still a lack of validation of these methods under natural exposure scenarios since in situ studies are scarce. To guide researchers studying pollution effects on aquatic macrophytes in the field, we developed integrated models for monitoring of multiple biomarkers from bench-scale studies of biomarker responses to copper, atrazine, ciprofloxacin, and PFASs.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-27833-4