Biomonitoring Of Trace Aquatic Contaminants (ettore Majorana International Science Series)

Twenty years ago, researchers wishing to identify contaminated areas in aquatic environments generally took water samples, and analysed them badly (as we have since discovered) for a few "pollutants" which were of topical note at the time (and which could be quantified by the methods then available). Today, the use of aquatic organisms as biomonitors in preference to water analysis has become commonplace, and many national and interna­ tional programmes exist around the world involving such studies. We believe that this trend will continue, and have complete faith in the methodology (when it is employed correctly). We hope that the following text assists in some part in attaining this goal, such that the quality of our most basic global resource -water - is adequately protected in the future. DAVE PHILLIPS, PHIL RAINBOW England, March 1992 vii Acknowledgements Our thanks for contributions to this book are due to several individuals and groups, for varying reasons. Firstly, a co-authored book is always a triumph, and we trust that the following text is an acceptable compromise of the views of two individual authors, on a complex and developing topic. Secondly, many of the ideas herein have crystallised over the last two decades as the field has grown, and we are individually and collectively grateful to a number of researchers for their insight and assistance. Front Matter....Pages i-xii Definitions and Scope....Pages 1-9 The Green Revolution....Pages 10-50 Aquatic Contaminants of Concern....Pages 51-64 The Early Use of Biomonitors....Pages 65-78 The Biomonitoring of Trace Metals and Radionuclides....Pages 79-132 The Biomonitoring of Organochlorines and Hydrocarbons....Pages 133-178 Monitoring Trace Contaminants in Freshwater Ecosystems....Pages 179-211 The Development of De Novo Biomonitoring Programmes for Trace Contaminants....Pages 212-242 Monitoring the Effects of Contaminants....Pages 243-288 The Present Status and the Future....Pages 289-292 Back Matter....Pages 293-371