Biosensors for environmental monitoring

Environmental monitoring is of great importance for its protection. Conventional monitoring methods are often slow and complex and require expensive equipment, making them unsuitable for in situ, real-time monitoring of pollutants. Biosensors based on a combination of a biological sensing element and an electronic signal-transducing element are alternative methods to conventional ones. Biosensors have a number of advantages, such as high selectivity, high stability, and short response time. Various kinds of biosensors have been developed and employed for detection of pollutants such as phosphate, cyanide, and herbicides. Some of these have already been exploited as real-time monitoring in situ. In this article, some of the applications of biosensors for environmental control are described.