Washington: A particular enzyme in fish can be used as biomarker to indicate the presence of toxic and non-toxic substances, a new study has revealed.
The level of the enzyme carbonyl reductase (CBR) is elevated in the livers of fish that have been exposed to cleaned wastewater.
Scientists at the University of Gothenburg can show that CBR has properties that may make it suitable to be used as a biomarker, an early warning signal of environmental toxins.
The aim of the project is to achieve better environmental monitoring.
“While chemists measure the levels of environmental toxins, we biologists monitor their effects,” says Eva Albertsson, research student in the Department of Zoology at the University of Gothenburg.
“We can use biomarkers to discover these effects before the levels of toxins have become fatal. The increased CBR level in fish is probably caused by chemicals in the water.”
Source: The Indian Express, 10-11-2011
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