[Application of terrestrial invertebrates biomarkers in soil pollution ecology study]

Biomarkers in terrestrial invertebrates play an important role in estimating either exposure or resultant effects of pollutants in soil ecosystem, which has received increasing attention and made significant progress. The present paper has drawn three important biomarkers, i.e., lysosomes, stress protein and mettllothioneins (MTs). The lysosomal membrane stability of coelomocytes was assayed as neutral-red retention time (NRR-time) resulting from toxicant stress. Hsp70 and Hsp60 were commonly used in the stress protein families. The quantification methods of different isofoms of the mettllothioneins could specifically indicate different metal contamination. The rationale, characteristics, and relevant exemplary case of assaying the biomarkers and their promising application to ecotoxicological diagnosing in soil contamination were discussed.