On developing bioindicators for human and ecological health

Risk assessors and risk managers generally either examine ecological health (using bioindicators) or human health (using biomarkers of exposure or eff ect). In this paper we suggest that it is possible and advantageous to deve lop bioindicators that can be used to assess exposure and effect for both h uman and non-human receptors. We describe the characteristics of suitable b ioindicators for both human and ecological health, using mourning doves (Ze naida macroura), raccoons (Procyon lotor), and bluefish (Pomatomus saltatri x) as examples, and list the general characteristics of other species that would make them useful indicators for assessing both human and ecological h ealth. Bioindicators can be used cross-sectionally to assess the status of ecosystems and risk as well as longitudinally for monitoring changes or eva luating remediation. For both human and ecological risk assessment, there a re three sets of characteristics to consider when selecting bioindicators: biological relevance, methodological relevance, and societal relevance. An indicator which fails to fulfill these is not likely to be considered cost- effective and is likely to be abandoned. The indicator should be readily me asured and must measure an important range of impacts. For long-term suppor t of a bioindicator, the indicator should be easily understood, and be cost effective. We suggest that bioindicators that can also be used for both ec ological and human health risk assessment are optimal.