The ecotoxicological significance of genotoxicity in marine invertebrates

Attention is drawn to the goals of genetic ecotoxicology, in particular, the need to relate genotoxicity in individuals to population and community level consequences. The evidence for pollutant-induced genotoxicity in marine invertebrates is reviewed. Neoplasia is apparently rare in marine invertebrates and only limited evidence is available to suggest that chemical genotoxins act as causative agents. It is unknown why marine invertebrates exhibit low tumour incidences and are much more tolerant of ionising radiation than their vertebrate counterparts. The importance of the genotoxic disease syndrome is highlighted. Disentangling phenotypic manifestations of genotoxic damage and that due to direct metabolic toxicity provides a major challenge for the future. Further work is required to assess the significance of interspecific and interindividual variability in susceptibility to genotoxicity, especially with regard to the evolution of resistant populations and communities of marine organisms at contaminated sites. Only by addressing the issues highlighted above can proper risk assessments of genotoxic agents be performed to minimise threats to human and ecosystem health.