Bioindication and Biomonitoring As Innovative Biotechniques for Controlling Heavy Metal Data of the Environment B

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PLENARY LECTURES Bioindication and Biomonitoring as Innovative Biotechniques for Controlling Heavy Metal Data of the Environment B. Markert

Fliederweg 17, D-49733 Haren, Germany, [email protected]

Abstarct Before entering the field of integrating different bioindication methods, clear cut definitions of the terms bioindication and biomonitoring are given. For purposes of bioindication and biomonitoring of chemical elements obviously both a highly specific approach con- cerning each single chemical species of an element and a comprehensive treatment of general features are required. The latter is given in the Biological System of Elements. Classical methods have been tested for years to observe the quality of our environment. Especially the use of living organisms in biotests, bioindication and biomonitoring activities is meanwhile an established method of determining inorganic and organic contaminants. To achieve a more public-related prophylactic healthcare feature derived from these biotechniques in the future, all existing tools of analytical and biological investigations of the past must be con- centrated on a common focus. A first approach, including an example for transferring trace elements from the food to the the childs via the nursering mother is given, in a so called Multi-Markered Bioindication Concept (MMBC). Further on, the collaboration between analytical scientists, ecotoxicologists and especially medical people is of elementary impor- tance. For reaching this communication and exchange of essential information different forms of education and teaching of students on an international level combined with common research projects are essential key functions for a common success. Keywords: Biomonitoring, Bioindication, Biotests, The Biological System of Elements (BSE), The Multi-Markered Bioindication Concept (MMBC)

Introduction - the interelemental relations of single ele- Increases in the production and the ments within an individual organisms release of chemical substances into the envi- expressed as a linear correlation coefficient, ronment have reached a stage where the - the physiological function of single ele- individual and society are no longer able to ments paying attention to evolutionary control their impact (Baker and Brooks, development during the emergence of organ- 1989; Rauch 2010). Use and transformation ic life from the inorganic environment, of over 100.000 individual compounds - and the uptake form of individual elements whose current locations are largely unknown and their compounds by the living organism. has resulted in an intensive research with The use of living or formerly living respect to basic and applied research topics. organisms in biotests, bioindication and bio- One of these chemical compounds are chem- monitoring is meanwhile an established ical elements, especially heavy metals and method of determine inorganic and organic their different forms of chemical speciation contaminants (Aksoy and Ozturk, 1997; found in the environment. Bargagli, 1998; Klos et al., 2010; Loppi et al., The position and classification of the 1999; Markert, et al. 2003, Ozturk et al., chemical elements in the classical Periodic 2008; Schroeder et al., 2007; Smodis et al., System of the Elements (PSE) does not per- 2004; Wolterbeek, 2002, Wolterbeek et al., mit any statements to be made about their 2003 ). In the following some definitions functional essentiality or their acute chronic summarized in Markert et al. (1997, 2003) toxicity for living organisms. This is related are given: to the fact that the PSE is based on purely Bioindicators are organisms or com- physiochemical aspects. In the past years a munities of organisms whose content of cer- so called Biological System of Elements tain elements or chemical (organic) com- (BSE) has been established (fig. 1, Markert pounds and/or whose morphological, histo- 1994), which primarily considers aspects of logical or cellular structure, metabolic-bio- basic analytical, biochemical and physiologi- chemical processes, behaviour or population cal. This includes structure(s), including changes in these

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Figure 1. The Biological System of the Elements (BSE) compiled from data on correlation analysis, physiological function of the individual elements in the living organisms, evolutive development out of the inorganic environment, and with respect to their uptake form by the plant organism as a neutral molecule or charged ion. The elements H and Na exercise various functions in the biological system so that they are not conclusively fixed. The ringed elements can at present only be summarized as groups of elements with a similar physiological function since there is a lack of correlation data or else these data are too imprecise (Markert, 1994, 1996). parameters, supply information on the qual- al. 2008 yet states that results from single- ity of the environment or the nature of envi- species tests will give only limited information ronment changes. on effects of chemical substances in higher bio- Biomonitors are organisms or commu- logical integration levels (populations, bio- nities of organisms whose content of certain coenoses or ecosystems). Accordingly, prob- elements or chemical (organic) compounds lems even arise when just extrapolating data and/or whose morphological, histological or obtained in one species of plant or animal to cellular structure, metabolic-biochemical another one (even if it belongs to the same processes, behaviour or population struc- genus); the same holds for transfer of (laborato- ture(s), including changes in these parame- ry) test results to the freeland situation which is ters, supply information on the quantitative distinguished by more complex structures and aspects of the quality of the environment or corresponding timescales (Haber 2009). the nature of environment changes. Thus ecotoxicology, focussed on identi- A lot of excellent conferences, work- fying and evaluating effects of hazardous shops, meetings, PhD-courses related to this compounds on ecosystems, can only partly topic are available (f.e Pla et al., 2009; Trapp meet the precautionary ends of toxicology and Reins, 2009). (concerned with human health). This neces- sitates working on human-based samples in Material and Methods the framework of a broad-viewing investiga- As telling as environmental data derived tion focussed on such effects which possibly from bioindication may be, Wuenschmann et affect humans (Markert et al., 2008).There is

15 th ICHMET 45 PLENARY LECTURES a chance to meet the comprehensive precau- employed in haematological and chemical tionary expectations of toxicology only if clinical investigations of subchronic and investigations are combined into a biointegra- chronic toxicity, whereas ECO is largely made tive approach in a systematical manner. Thus up of all the bioindicative testing systems and both temporal trends of environmental bur- monitors relevant to ecosystems which may dening and newly developing centres of pollu- be combined to suit the particular situation to tion can be identified. For this purpose, Mark- be monitored (Markert et al. 2003, 2008). ert et al. (2003) designed the Multi-markered- bioindication concept (MMBC; fig. 2); its Short Discussion and Conclusion approach depends on some combination of By relating data from all the toolboxes ecotoxicological data-sets with those from with some network, it must be achieved to human medicine (especially toxicology). This assess average health risks to certain parts of method which is based on "tool boxes" (cp. the the population or at least upper limits of future explanations for fig. 2) thus implies an risks posed by pollutants (Markert et al. 2008). approach integrating different instrumental For this kind of risk assessment, all the infor- (Djingova and Kuleff, 2000; Namiesnik and mation on kinds of effects, dose-effect rela- Szefer, 2009) and bioindicative methods tionships, and toxicological limits derived (Figueiredo et al., 2001, Franca et al., 2007, there from by present level of scientific knowl- Schüürmann and Markert 1998; Simeonov edge are combined and used (WHO, 1996). and Simeonova, 2009). Although toxicological experiments on As presented already by Markert et al. humans would be unethical, yet correspon- (2008) fig. 2 represents one proposal of a com- ding data pertinent to toxic risks can be plete dynamics environmental monitoring obtained from workplace experiences and system supported by bioindication to integrate cases of accidental, homicidal or suicidal poi- human- and ecotoxicological approaches. It soning. For both statistical reasons and evalu- can recombine its measurement parameters ation of sub-acute-dose effects which might according to the particular system to be moni- yet bring about diseases, results of epidemio- tored or the scientific frame of reference. The logical surveys which compare exposed to con- two main subjects of investigation - man and trol groups must be added. Recent information the environment - and the disciplines human technology allows for development and use of toxicology and ecotoxicology derived from simulation models which integrate all these them are associated with various "toolboxes" data, integrating a large number of parameters and sets of tests ("tools", e.g. bioassays) for which are not directly linked to each other. integrated environmental monitoring (Mark- Analysis of biogenic samples in either ert et al. 2003). The system shown in fig. 2 biomonitoring or bioindication will produce consists of six toolboxes. The first two are data; these, however must not be taken as derived mainly from environmental research: pieces of information on the "state of the envi- DAT (for data) and TRE (for trend). DAT con- ronment" directly, except for measurements of tains, as a set, all the data available from the atmospheric deposition (by means of mosses, (eco-)system under investigation, i.e. includ- Tillandsiae and the like). Even then, no organ- ing data acquired by purely instrumental ism might enrich f.e. all the elements from means, for example from meteorological the environment by some identical bioconcen- devices. DAT also contains maximum permis- tration factor BCF but there will always be sible concentrations of substances in drinking selectivity with drawbacks in biomonitoring water, food or air at the workplace and the data (Fraenzle & Markert 2007). Please find further for the relevant ADI ("acceptable daily intake") discussions and conclusions in Markert et al. and NO(A)EL ("no observed (adverse) effect 2003 and 2008). level"). The toolbox TRE contains data on trends; these have been compiled mainly from References years of investigations by national environ- Aksoy, A., Ozturk, M., (1997): Nerium mental sample banks, or information avail- oleander L. as a biomonitor of lead and other able from long-term national and internation- heavy metals pollution in mediterrean environ- al studies (e.g. Ellenberg et al. 1986). Specific ments. The Sci.Total Environm. 205. 145-150. conclusions and trend forecasts can then be Baker, A.J.M., Brooks, R.R., (1989): Ter- prepared using the subsequent toolboxes HSB restrial higher plants which hyperaccumulate (human specimen banking) and ESB (environ- metallic elements - A review of their distribu- mental specimen banking). The toolbox MED tion, ecology and phytochemistry, Biorecovery (medicine) contains all methods usually 1, 86-126.

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Figure 2. Possible hierarchical structure of a bioindicative toolbox model for integrative approaches in human- and ecotoxicology. The toolboxes MED and ECO contain single sets of tests that can be combined functionally to allow an integrated approach to the particular frame of reference or a specific scientific problem. The toolboxes HSB (human specimen banking) and ESB (environmental specimen banking) represent years of results from international environmental sample banks specializing in environmental and human toxicology; in addition to MED and ECO they provide important information on the ecotoxicological and human-toxicological behavior of environmental chemicals. In the integrated approach, all the results obtained singly are substantiated by existing basic data available from (eco-) systems research, toxicology and environmental sample banks. The parameter constella- tions necessary for this are taken from the toolboxes TRE and DAT (Markert et al., 2003).

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