Biological Markers. New and Emerging Technologies : Biologic Markers of Air-Pollution Stress and Damage in Forests. Workshop Papers

1989

S. 81-88

22 Lit. Ang.

Unselbständiges Werk

200069281

Widespread, chronic, low concentrations of atmospheric pollutants lead to circumstances where visible impact upon forests is generally not evident. For this reason an array of reliable markers is needed to assess physiological damage to vegetation long before it becomes visible. Several new and emerging technologies offer promising techniques for use as markers. Short-lived radioisotopes (SLR) of metabolizable compounds can now be introduced to plants and their assimilation, translocation and allocation patterns characterized in vivo, nondestructively, and in real time as functions of pollutant impact. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has recently developed into a powerful tool for quantitative analysis of metabolic processes in living tissues, identifying chemical groups and their concentrations. Infrared reflectance (IR) techniques have been used extensively in analytical laboratories and are now a viable technique for physiological measurements in intact plants. Finally, the development of fiber optics, semiconductor and membrane technologies has set the stage for the near-future development of a variety of microsensors capable of making physiological and biochemical measurements localized to the level of single cells or tissues. These latter techniques provide even more opportunities for markers yet to be identified. The implementation of short- lived radioisotopes to measure biological markers in field environments is discussed, together with the cost-effectiveness of emerging technologies.