[Environment and health--studies using biomarkers].
Present day society is questioning more and more the effect of the evolution of modern agriculture on the quality of life. Two new tools, biomarkers and satellite images, may be used to provide a better understanding of the links which exist between the quality of the environment, the food chain and human health. This multi-disciplinary approach has for some years now joined together diverse specialists from INSERM, the CNRS and the University. Experiments are undertaken in real conditions on several sites of large scale farming land in the north of the Paris Basin. The aim is to study the quantitative and qualitative transfers of pollutants travelling in soils and waters towards agricultural food products, and then to man. The first results of laboratory analysis, concerning the use certain genes of thermic shock proteins HSP 70 and metallothionein MT2A as biomarkers of disequilibrium, are very conclusive. Furthermore, the connection of these genes with a fluorescent (reporter) gene and found in farmed vegetation, could enable the use of satellite images, and this possibility seems to be very promising. The ultimate goal is to improve knowledge of the direct effects of modern agricultural practices on human health and to participate in the debate about the place of modern agriculture in the development of modern society.
Wicherek
S
S
Centre de Biogéographie-Ecologie, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS) Saint-Cloud, Paryz, Francja.
Oudinet
J P
JP
D000383:Agriculture / Q000592:standards*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D020387:Food Chain; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000032:analysis; D011788:Quality of Life; D017215:Satellite Communications
D015415:Biomarkers; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D008668:Metallothionein