Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
ecotoxicologists and especially medical people is of elementary importance. For
reaching this communication and exchange of essential information, different forms
of education and teaching of students on an international level combined with com-
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Keywords
Biomonitoring
·
Bioindication
·
Biotests
·
The Biological System of
Elements (BSE)
·
The Multi-Markered-Bioindication Concept (MMBC)
1 Introduction
Previous thought on the distribution of elements in an ecosystem has been based on
the fact that the information relative to content and concentration is valid for the spe-
cific plant species with more or less broad limits (Markert
1996
). At the same time
one should note that there can be natural fluctuations in the element contents among
individuals of a plant species growing on similar soil types (Marschner
1983
).
The position and classification of the chemical elements in the classical Periodic
System of the Elements (PSE) does not permit any statements to be made about
their functional essentiality or their acute chronic toxicity for living organisms. This
is related to the fact that the PSE is based on purely physiochemical aspects. In the
past years, a so-called Biological System of Elements (BSE) has been established
(Fig.
6.1
), which primarily considers aspects of basic analytical, biochemical and
physiological research (Duvigneaud and Denayer-De Smet
1973
; Keith
1988
; Adri-
ano
1992
; Farago
1994
; Saiki et al.
1997
; Breulmann et al.
1998
; Bargagli
1998
;
Lieth
1998
; Djingova and Kuleff
2000
; Wolterbeek
2002
; Golan-Goldhirsh et al.
2004
; Lux et al.
2004
; Freitas et al.
2006
; Mench et al.
2006
; Fraenzle et al.
2007
;
França et al.
2007
; Broadley et al.
2007
; Lepp and Madejon
2007
; Cakmak
2008
;
Chaney et al.
2008
; Fraenzle et al.
2008
; Greger
2008
; Irtelli and Navari-Izzo
2008
;
Marmiroli and Maestri
2008
; Prasad
2008
; Quevauviller et al.
2008
; Schroeder P
et al.
2008
; Schwitzguébel et al.
2008
; Trapp et al.
2008
; Verbruggen et al.
2008
;
Verkleij
2008
; Pla et al.
2000
; Smodis
2003
; Suchara et al.
2007
; Zechmeister et al.
2007
). This includes:
• the inter-elemental relations of single elements within an individual organisms
expressed as a linear correlation coefficient,
• the physiological function of single elements paying attention to evolutionary—
development during the emergence of organic life from the inorganic environ-
ment, and
• the uptake form of individual elements and their compounds by the living
organisms.
For purposes of bioindication and biomonitoring of chemical elements, obvi-
ously both a highly specific approach concerning each single chemical species
of an element and a comprehensive treatment of general features are required
(Markert
1996
; Bargagli
1998
; Carreras et al.
1998
; Garty
1998
; Herpin et al.
2001
;
