Figure 1.

Conceptual diagram showing putative sequential effects of bivalve exposures to Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs). Using the Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) framework, initiating events at the molecular level can be connected to higher order effects at the organism and population levels which are relevant to risk assessment. Biomarker assessments typically identify molecular and cellular level effects. Higher order effects, at the level of organism and population, can result in ecological and human health impacts which, in turn, result in socio-economic consequences.