Biomarkers Currently Used in Environmental Monitoring - Ecological Biomarkers: Indicators of Ecotoxicological Effects - page 385

15
Biomarkers Currently Used in
Environm ental Monitoring
Tracy K. Collier, Michael W.L. Chiang, Doris W.T. Au, and Philip S. Rainbow
CONTENTS
15.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 385
15.2 European Approach .......................................................................................................... 386
15.2.1 OSPAR and the Marine Environment................................................................. 386
15.2.2 Freshwater ............................................................................................................... 389
15.3 United States of America .................................................................................................. 390
15.3.1 National Status and Trends Program ................................................................. 390
15.3.2 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program .................................... 391
15.3.3 Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends........................................ 391
15.3.4 Puget Sound Assessment and Monitoring Program ........................................ 392
15.3.5 U.S. Summary and Prospectus ............................................................................ 393
15.4 Approaches in Asia ........................................................................................................... 394
15.4.1 Hong Kong .............................................................................................................. 395
15.4.2 China ....................................................................................................................... 397
15.4.3 South Korea............................................................................................................. 401
15.4.4 Japan ........................................................................................................................ 402
15.4.5 India ......................................................................................................................... 402
15.4.6 Other Asian Countries .......................................................................................... 403
15.4.7 Ways Forward ........................................................................................................ 404
15.5 Conclusions ......................................................................................................................... 404
References ..................................................................................................................................... 405
15.1 Introduction
It is clear from the preceding chapters in this topic that biomarkers have an important
contribution to make to environmental assessment. It is relevant then to ask whether and
which biomarkers have made the full transition from the research arena to use by regula-
tory bodies with responsibility for assessing and ultimately controlling the release of toxic
contaminants into the ecosystem.
It is impossible to be comprehensive in any such survey, and we have concentrated on
three regions of the world to provide examples—Europe, the United States of America,
and Asia.
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