Biological effects of contaminants: the use of embryo aberrations in amphipod crustaceans for measuring effects of environmental stressors.

Abstract

This report describes the methodology for assessing the proportions and different types of embryo aberrations in both sediment‐dwelling and nektonic amphipods. Determination of malformed embryos is a sensitive method of detecting the effects of contaminants, such as trace metals and hydrophobic organic contaminants. Furthermore, it is also possible to derive information about non‐contaminant environmental effects, e.g. oxygen deficiency and temperature stress, by discriminating between different types of embryo aberrations. Thus, the main advantage of the method is to separate general effects of contaminants from other environmental stressors. It is a general bio‐indicator that is sensitive to all kinds of xenobiotics and is applicable for measuring effects of long‐term chronic impact of individual chemicals or mixtures of contaminants, as well as acute local effects from point source discharges in situ.