# name
Heavy metal accumulation by intestinal helminths of vertebrates

# metadata.dc.description[].value
Podeu consultar el llibre complet a: http://hdl.handle.net/2445/32393

# metadata.dc.description.abstract[].value
The relevancy of parasites as potential indicators of environmental quality has been increasing over the last years, mostly due to the variety of ways in which they respond to anthropogenic pollution. The use of fish parasites as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution in aquatic ecosystems has been widely studied. However, little information concerning terrestrial habitats is presently available. In fact, in the last two decades several studies have been performed worldwide in different habitats and/or conditions (theoretically both in polluted and unpolluted terrestrial
ecosystems, but mainly in aquatic  ecosystems) in order to investigate heavy metal pollution using parasitological models. Different groups of vertebrates (mainly fish, mammals and birds) and several parasitological models have been tested involving acanthocephalans mostly, but also cestodes and nematodes. It is not the aim of this chapter to do a complete revision of the available
data concerning this subject. Instead, we emphasize some general aspects and compile a mini-review of the work performed in this field by our research group. The results obtained until now allow confirming several parasitic models as promising bioindicator systems to evaluate environmental cadmium and mainly lead pollution in terrestrial non-urban habitats, as it was already demonstrated for aquatic ecosystems. The present knowledge also allows confirming that parasites can reveal environmental impact. Environmental parasitology is an interdisciplinary field, which needs simultaneous expertise from toxicology, environmental chemistry and parasitology. Furthermore, environmental parasitology should be taken into account in order to increase the efficiency of environmental monitoring programs.

# metadata.dc.relation.isformatof[].value
Reproducció del capítol 10 del llibre publicat a: http://www.trnres.com/ebookcontents.php?id=131

# metadata.dc.relation.ispartof[].value
Recent Advances in Pharmaceutical Sciences II, 2012, Editor: Diego Muñoz-Torrero, Diego Haro and Joan Vallès, Chapter 10, p. 169-181.

# metadata.dc.source[].value
Llibres / Capítols de llibre (Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient)

# metadata.dc.title[].value
Heavy metal accumulation by intestinal helminths of vertebrates