Necessity of Defining Biomarkers for Use in Ecological Risk Assessments

摘要

Biomarkers have been classified into three spearate cate- gories that correspond to three major parameters neces- sary to conduct ecological risk assessments. To conduct an accurate ecological risk assessment, ecological effects as well as exposure and susceptibility to contaminants must be well-characterized following identification or formula- tion of a problem. In each of these processes, well-defined biological indicators an be used in certain cases to help make inexpensive preditions regarding the bioavailability (exposure), mechanism of action (effect) and uncertainty of response (susceptibility) elicited by various anthropo- genic substances. The following discussion helps define each category and how they may be used in a risk as- sessment setting.