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6                                                          The Toxicology of Fishes


                       in Chapter 16, “Biomarkers”; information provided here includes descriptions of a broad array of
                       biomarkers and examples of their application in biomonitoring. In Chapter 17, “Aquatic Ecosystems for
                       Ecotoxicological Research: Considerations and Design Analysis for Fish,” the importance of research
                       at higher, ecologically relevant levels of biological organization (populations, communities, and ecosys-
                       tems) is described, and examples of appropriate designs are provided. Finally, Chapter 18, “Ecological
                       Risk Assessment,” deals with the translation of ecotoxicological research into environmental management
                       and policy; the approach of risk assessment considers data on exposure to and toxicity of chemical
                       contaminants, sensitivities of organisms that are likely to be exposed, and the quantitative assessment
                       of risks to aquatic systems.
                        In Unit IV, “Case Studies,” a group of seven chapters provides ample examples of how the principles
                       and approaches presented in earlier units are actually deployed in studies, particularly in the field; for
                       example, Chapter 19 presents an analysis of mining and effects on fish in a Montana river. The study
                       combines chemistry, biological responses, and ecotoxicological findings. In Chapter 20, the effects of
                       synthetic pyrethroid compounds in fish are covered. In Chapter 21, mechanistic insight into the early-
                       life-stage toxicity of certain chemicals is used to assess risks to Great Lakes fish. Both the subject of
                       this field evaluation as well as its use of early life stages are of great interest given recent recommendations
                       by REACH legislation in the European Union to refine, reduce, and reevaluate the use of animals in
                       toxicity testing. Chapter 22 is concerned with the effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in fish
                       from Puget Sound, Washington. Chapter 23 examines the effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on Pacific
                       herring in Prince William Sound. This investigation involved successive years of evaluation and included
                       pathology as a backbone of the field investigations. In Chapter 24 addresses the pulp and paper mill
                       effects studied in streams of Canada; the authors present a consideration of various indicators for the
                       health of surface waters downstream of paper mills. Chapter 25 provides a detailed review of the estrogen-
                       mimicking agents released from treated sewage effluent and their effects on fish inhabiting rivers in
                       England. These case studies illustrate the power of, and absolute need for, highly integrated interdisci-
                       plinary research teams to address complex issues of chemical pollution in the aquatic environment.
                        It is our sincere wish that The Toxicology of Fishes will provide a very important teaching tool to
                       introduce new students to the field, and we envision this effort presenting an opportunity for experienced
                       authors and investigators to share their findings and expertise with others. Finally, to prepare a thorough
                       coverage of the toxicology of fishes is a major task and one not completed in a short time due to the
                       multiple roles of those investigators that agree to take on the task of authorship of one or more chapters.
                       To assume this responsibility means that yet another set of tasks was placed on an already busy schedule.
                       To all the participants in this book, we offer our congratulations on a job well done and our sincere
                       appreciation for your efforts on behalf of this endeavor. Due to these efforts we believe this text will
                       become a source of useful information that guides worker and student alike.
                        Additional color figures are available on the CRC website: www.crcpress.com. Under the menu
                       Electronic Products (located on the left side of the screen), click on Downloads & Updates. A list of
                       books in alphabetical order with Web downloads will appear. Locate The Toxicology of Fishes  by a
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                       Go to the bottom of this screen and click on the hyperlinked “Download” which is in a zip file. Or,
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                       References

                       Ankley, G.T., Daston, G.P., Degitz, S.J., Denslow, N.D., Hoke, R.A., Kennedy, S.W., Miracle, A.L., Perkins,
                          E.J., Snape, J., Tillitt, D.E., Tyler, C.R., and Versteeg, D. 2006. Toxicogenomics in regulatory ecotoxicol-
                          ogy, Environ. Sci. Technol., 40: 4055–4065.
                       Benson, W.H. and Di Giulio, R.T., Eds. 2006. Emerging Molecular and Computational Approaches for Cross-
                          Species Extrapolations, Taylor & Francis, New York.
                       Clements, W.H. and Newman, M.C. 2002. Community Ecotoxicology, John Wiley & Sons, New York.
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