Omics-based analyses revealed the toxicological effects of typical pollutants in the Bohai Sea on marine bivalves
Topic 1
The endocrine disruption effects of brominated flame retardants on marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis – Dr Associate Professor Chenlong Ji
Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are widely used in various materials to reduce fire-related hazards. However, the increasing detection of BFRs in marine environments has raised concerns about their potential threat to marine organisms. Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), one of the most common BFRs globally, has a chemical structure similar to bisphenol A (BPA) and has been reported to exhibit endocrine-disrupting effects in both humans and animals. Nevertheless, the endocrine-disrupting potential of TBBPA and its alternatives in marine mussels—an ecologically important group of invertebrates—remains poorly understood. This presentation will examine whether and how TBBPA and its alternatives induce endocrine-disrupting effects in marine mussels. Transcriptomic analysis was employed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of endocrine disruption.
Dr. Ji is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences. With 114 publications and an H-index of 37, his research focuses on assessing the adverse effects of pollutants on marine bivalves using systems biology approaches. He also specializes in developing molecular biomarkers for environmental risk assessment. His work covers both traditional pollutants, such as heavy metals, and emerging organic contaminants, including brominated flame retardants and PFASs. Dr. JI has secured research funding from several prestigious sources, including the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Key Project of the Chinese National Programs for Fundamental Research and Development. His contributions have been recognized through numerous awards, such as the Excellent Prize of the President Scholarship of CAS (2014), the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of CAS (2015), and the Outstanding Youth Researcher Award from the Shenyang Branch of CAS (2018).
Topic 2
Low salinity influences the dose-dependent transcriptomic responses of oysters to cadmium – Dr Associate Professor Junfei Zhan
Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic heavy metal, even at very low levels, and widely used in batteries, paints, plastics, and for electroplating. Cd still poses high risks in many coastal and estuarine areas worldwide. These areas are often characterized by low salinity, which may influence the behavior and toxicity of Cd. A key question in environmental risk assessment is whether and how salinity changes affect Cd toxicity. Benchmark dose (BMD) modeling provides a quantitative approach to assess dose-response relationships and can help estimate the impact of low salinity on Cd toxicity. This presentation will discuss the influence of low salinity on cadmium risk assessment and the use of BMD modeling to quantify potential effects.
Dr. Zhan is an Associate Professor at Ludong University and a visiting researcher at University of Newcastle Australia. Her research focuses on the toxicological effects of heavy metal pollutants, such as cadmium and arsenic, which are widely distributed in the Chinese coastal environment, in marine bivalves by integrating multi-omics with traditional toxicology approaches. She also specializes in investigating the mechanisms of arsenic biotransformation using BMD modeling. Her work has been supported by research funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation.
