About this Research Topic
Surface waters are important in transporting and distributing contaminants among different environmental compartments. Fish embryos are, therefore, exposed to the hazardous materials present in aquatic ecosystems, including those able to specifically induce developmental toxicity. The main phases of vertebrate development are (1) fertilization, cleavage and blastulation, (2) gastrulation and (3) organogenesis. Both the concentration of the hazardous materials and the developmental windows of exposure are critical for the final adverse outcome. It is known that many hazardous materials, including metals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, organic solvents, flame retardants, POPs and micro and nano plastics, commonly found in many aquatic ecosystems, can impair fish development and generate multi-organ syndrome which can seriously compromise fish survival later in life. Furthermore, even hazardous materials incidents, such as oil or chemical spillage, affecting a generation of offspring can have dramatic consequences at the population and even community level.
This Research Topic supports research using novel ecotoxicological approaches to access developmental toxicity in different fish species. Articles addressing effects of exposure to relevant concentrations of pollutants at multi-levels of organization are strongly encouraged.
Potential areas of interest may include, but are not limited to:
• Behavioral impairment following early life exposure to environmental contaminants
• Linking epigenetic changes induced by the early-life exposure to pollutants and behavioral impairment in adult stage
• Investigate which physiological mechanisms, such as metabolic, neurological and hormonal are altered through early life exposure to pollutants
• Integrate behavioral effects of environmental toxicants with physiological processes at multi-levels of organization
Authors are welcome to submit original research papers, reviews, and short communications.
This Research Topic supports research using novel ecotoxicological approaches to access developmental toxicity in different fish species. Articles addressing effects of exposure to relevant concentrations of pollutants at multi-levels of organization are strongly encouraged.
Potential areas of interest may include, but are not limited to:
• Behavioral impairment following early life exposure to environmental contaminants
• Linking epigenetic changes induced by the early-life exposure to pollutants and behavioral impairment in adult stage
• Investigate which physiological mechanisms, such as metabolic, neurological and hormonal are altered through early life exposure to pollutants
• Integrate behavioral effects of environmental toxicants with physiological processes at multi-levels of organization
Authors are welcome to submit original research papers, reviews, and short communications.
Keywords: fish, relevant concentrations, multi-level approach, embryo, aquatic physiology, hazardous materials, developmental toxicity, relevant concentration
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
