Scientifiic principles of use of biomarkers in medico-ecological studies (review)
The article presents an overview and summarizes the accumulated international and national experience, highlighting the formation and main stages of the development of the theoretical foundations and practical significance of the use of biomarkers in medico-ecological studies and evaluations in terms of influence of harmful chemical factors on the human organism. It is shown that in order to increase the effectiveness of evidentiary causal relationships of developing negative effects and modifying the mechanism of their development with the adverse effects of environmental factors, the need to expand scientific research in the field of biomarkers, their selection criteria, and justification of reference levels is becoming more urgent. In accordance with the opinion of experts from the Ad Hoc Collaborating Organizations on Biomarkers (UNEP, ILO and WHO), biomarkers of three classes were identified - exposure biomarkers, reflecting exposure, sensitivity, characterizing the degree of organism susceptibility to exposure and markers of negative effects, indicating the development of the body's response to the effects of risk factors. Based on the currently existing international approaches and taking into account national competencies, a characteristic was given and the practical significance of each class of biological markers was shown when solving problems of substantiating cause-effect relationships in the system «environment - human health» and making adequate management decisions.