In order to assess the impact of neurotoxic compounds on marine environment the evaluation of acetylcholinesterase activity in marine organisms is used as a biomarker of exposure to neurotoxic agents such as organophosphorus, carbamate pesticides etc. Metallothioneins (MTs) are induced by toxic metals such as Cd, Hg, and Cu by chelation through cysteine residues and are used in both vertebrates and invertebrates as a biomarker of metal exposure. The measurement of the levels of DNA integrity in marine organisms such as Sea stars (Asterias rubens) from the North Sea and the marine snails (Planaxis sulcatus) from the Arabian Sea along the Goa coast exposed to environmental xenobiotic contaminants clearly indicated the extent and the nature of pollution at the sampling sites along coastal environment.
