You are here:
BIOSENSOR TECHNOLOGY EVALUATIONS FOR REAL-TIME/SOURCE WATER PROTECTION
Citation:
Haught*, R C., J A. Goodrich*, J M. Lazorchak, Shedd, Widder, Van der Schalie, H. J. Allen, AND W. T. Waller. BIOSENSOR TECHNOLOGY EVALUATIONS FOR REAL-TIME/SOURCE WATER PROTECTION. Presented at U.S. EPA Science Fair, Washington, DC, 05/01-03/2002.
Description:
Recent advances in electronics and computer technology have made great strides in the field of remote sensing and biomonitoring. The quality of drinking water sources has come under closer scrutiny in recent years. Issues ranging from ecological to public health and national security are under consideration. With advances in electronic and computer technology, biomonitors are being developed that can assess the toxicity of water samples by monitoring living organism behavior. Bio-monitoring records and tracks the subtle behavioral responses of aquatic organisms and thus a larger picture of specific toxic effects can be assessed. Such investigations can provide insight into the quality of water and source watershed ecology. It is known that different organisms vary in their sensitivity to different substances and can provide a more complete comprehensive understanding of water quality, thus this study uses multiple types of bio-monitors to evaluate and monitor the water quality.
Various biomonitors are being evaluated at the US EPA Test and Evaluation (T&E) Facility in Cincinnati, Ohio. Two of these are from a German company (bbe-Moldaenke, biological biophysical engineering): a Daphnia Toximeter (D-bbe) and an Algae Toximeter (A-bbe). The third is a clam sensor/monitor developed at the University of North Texas is planned for evaluation in the summer of 2002. The fourth is a fish monitor developed by the U.S. Army Center for Environmental Health Research (USACEHR). Research and evaluation is planned to begin at the T&E Facility later in 2002.
The primary objectives are to: 1) evaluate the sensory and accuracy of the biomonitors, and 2) to evaluate the reproducibility of the results against various known chemical contaminants.
Tests conducted to date have evaluated pH adjustment, exposure to various classes of chemicals at various concentrations and varying chemical exposure times. This poster will provide an overview of the test conditions and results to date.