Application of Multi-Omics Techniques in Aquatic Ecotoxicology: A Review

Traditional ecotoxicology primarily investigates pollutant toxicity through physiological, biochemical, and single-molecular indicators. However, the limited data obtained through this approach constrain its application in the mechanistic analysis of pollutant toxicity. Omics technologies have emerged as a major research focus in recent years, enabling the comprehensive and accurate analysis of biomolecular-level changes. The integration of multi-omics technologies can holistically reveal the molecular toxicity mechanisms of pollutants, representing a primary emphasis in current toxicological research. This paper introduces the fundamental concepts of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, while reviewing recent advancements in integrated omics approaches within aquatic toxicology. Furthermore, it provides a reference framework for the implementation of multi-omics strategies in ecotoxicological investigations. While multi-omics integration enables the unprecedented reconstruction of pollutant-induced molecular cascades and earlier biomarker discovery (notably through microbiome-metabolome linkages), its full potential requires experimental designs, machine learning-enhanced data integration, and validation against traditional toxicological endpoints within environmentally relevant models.