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Biomarkers of cadmium pollution in plants

Abstract:

Due to the vital role of plants in ecosystems, these organisms have been used for diagnosis or pbkp_rediction of negative consequences of anthropogenic activities through the study of their physiological processes, biochemical responses, mechanisms of adaptation and mortality. The organism responses as a result of the effects of polluting agents have been named biomarkers, which can be defined as biochemical, cellular, physiological or behavior changes that can be measured in the cells, corporal fluids and/or at level of complete organism. They offer evidence of the presence of one or more pollutants. Biomarkers offer complete and biologically relevant information on the potential impact of toxic polluting agents upon the health of organisms. They have the advantage of making evident early symptoms of damage caused by the polluting agent and, therefore, they can be used as early warning signals of the presence of chemical pollutants. This work analyzes information concerning plants as possible bioindicators of contamination by cadmium and the biomarkers that can be used for environmental management. To this end, cadmium as an environmental polluting agent is described, as also are its biogeochemical cycle, natural and anthropogenic sources, its effects on plants and the environment, and, finally, the main molecular responses of plants as early warning signals of the damage generated by cadmium and its use in the management of contamination by this heavy metal.