engleski

Monitoring strategies for toxicity assessment using biomarkers

Ecological risk assessment is defined as a process that evaluates the likelihood that adverse ecological effects may occur or are occurring as a result of exposure to one or more stressors. The ecological risk assessment is a process based on two major elements: characterization of exposure and characterization of ecological effect. The main goal of ecological risk assessment is to identify environmental problems, establish priorities, and provide a scientific basis for regulatory actions. Consequently, the ecological and societal value of ecototoxicological studies should be judged on their relevancy to fulfil the requirements posed by two major elements needed in the process of ecological risk assessment. Unfortunately, a large gap exists in our ability either to quantify the exposure to chemical agents in the environmnet or to assess the biological significance of such exposure. Exposure cannot be readily quantified by measuring the concentration of contaminants in tissues; many toxic agents do not accumulate, but are rapidly metabolized. Furthermore, the relationship between tissue concentration and toxic response is complex and is not fully understood. An informative approach to quantifying exposure and its potential impact is to monitor biological end-points, "biomarkers", in feral animals and plants as indicators of exposure and effects of environmnetal contaminants (Peakall and Shugart, 1993).

ecological risk assessment, biomarkers, exposure, Ames test, benzo(a)pyrene monooxygenase, ethoxyresorufin O-de-ethylase, MFO-induct test

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