title: Biological markers of environmental and ecological contamination: an overview.
abstract: An approach, using biomarkers (biological responses) for assessing the biological and ecological significance of contaminants present in the environment is described. Living organisms integrate exposure to contaminants in their environment and respond in some measurable and predictable way. Responses are observed at several levels of biological organization from the biomolecular level, where pollutants can cause damage to critical cellular macromolecules and elicit defensive strategies such as detoxication and repair mechanisms, to the organismal level, where severe disturbances are manifested as impairment in growth, reproduction, developmental abnormalities, or decreased survival. Biomarkers can provide not only evidence of exposure to a broad spectrum of anthropogenic chemicals, but also a temporally integrated measure of bioavailable contaminant levels. A suite of biomarkers are evaluated over time to determine the magnitude of the problem and possible consequences. Relationships between biomarker response and adverse ecological effects are determined from estimates of animal health and population structure.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee 37831-6036.
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Shugart
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Halbrook
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D004463:Ecology; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers