Necessity of Defining Biomarkers for Use in Ecological Risk Assessments

Biomarkers have been classified into three separate categories that correspond to three major parameters necessary 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 formulation of a problem. In each of these processes, well-defined biological indicators can be used in certain cases to help make inexpensive predictions regarding the bioavailability (exposure), mechanism of action (effect) and uncertainty of response (susceptibility) elicited by various anthropogenic substances. The following discussion helps define each category and how they may be used in a risk assessment setting.