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Nanotechnology to Aid Chemical and Biological Defense pp 77–93Cite as

Application of Cost-Effective Biological Tools for Assessing of Chemical Poisoning

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Part of the NATO Science for Peace and Security Series A: Chemistry and Biology book series (NAPSA)

Abstract

There is an enormous amount of new chemicals emerging every day with potential adverse effects for humans and environment. To assess these chemicals we need cost effective and reliable biological tools. Here we present in detail one of many bioassays suited for assessing chemical poisoning in the environment. This is a terrestrial isopod single-species test. Advantages of this test with terrestrial isopods are its flexibility in terms of exposure duration and versatile biomarker selection. By alternating test duration, one can test also those substances which are with moderate or low toxic potential; while a variety of biomarkers at different levels of biological complexity increase the relevance of tests results. In addition to laboratory single-species tests, terrestrial isopods could also be used for biomonitoring of pollutants. So far, this was thoroughly assessed in case of metal pollution, although isopods have a potential to be used also for biomonitoring of some organic substances and metal based nanoparticles. This is usually not the case in other standardised ecotoxicity tests species. In addition, we discuss that at present, we do not need completely new tests for emerging substances like new generations pesticides, personal care products and products of nanotechnologies, but is sufficient to adopt and modify existing test protocols.

Keywords

  • Hazard identification
  • Toxicity assessment
  • Pesticides
  • Nanoparticles
  • Terrestrial isopods

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Environmental Research, University of Nova Gorica, Vipavska 13, 301, SI-5000, Nova Gorica, Slovenia

    Olga Malev & Polonca Trebše

  2. Division of Materials Chemistry, Laboratory of Ichtiopatology – Biological Materials, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10001, Zagreb, Croatia

    Roberta Sauerborn Klobučar

  3. National Institute of Chemistry, Laboratory for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Tatjana Tišler

  4. Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Damjana Drobne

  5. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Zdravstvena pot 5, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Polonca Trebše

Authors
  1. Olga Malev
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  2. Roberta Sauerborn Klobučar
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  3. Tatjana Tišler
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  4. Damjana Drobne
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  5. Polonca Trebše
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Polonca Trebše .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA

    Terri A. Camesano

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Malev, O., Klobučar, R.S., Tišler, T., Drobne, D., Trebše, P. (2015). Application of Cost-Effective Biological Tools for Assessing of Chemical Poisoning. In: Camesano, T. (eds) Nanotechnology to Aid Chemical and Biological Defense. NATO Science for Peace and Security Series A: Chemistry and Biology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7218-1_6

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