Evaluation of Selected Histologic and Immunologic Biomarkers in Fish Collected for the BEST pilot program in the Mississippi

This study is part of a larger project entifled Biomonitoring of Environmental
Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Testing and Implementation of Selected
Aquatic Ecosystem Indicators in the Mississippi River System, 1995. This pilot
project includes assessment of a variety of biomarkers of which we are
responsible for the histologic and immunologic markers. During the period in
which concentrations of persistent contaminants were declining, the use of and
concerns about other chemicals, especially those that do not accumulate in
biota, increased. At least part of this concern stemmed from increasingly
frequent reports of fish kills and avi an wildlife mortality incidents related
to the use of soft pesticides-highly toxic, but short-lived organophosphate and
carbamate insecticides that do not accumulate (e.g.; Glaser 1995). Herbicides
are also now widely distributed in surface and ground waters of agricultural
areas. Information was obtained from http://www.lsc.usgs.gov/