Abstract

TORRES RODRIGUEZ, Marina Teresa. Empleo de los ensayos con plantas en el control de contaminantes tóxicos ambientales. Rev Cubana Hig Epidemiol [online]. 2003, vol.41, n.2-3. ISSN 0253-1751.

The increasing industrial and urban development has brought about the appearance of a considerable number of toxic chemicals, which affect not only human health, but that of the ecosystems in developed and developing countries, too. Rapid bioassays have been implemented with the use of plants as testing organisms that work as good tools in the initial screening. The advantages of the plants to be incorporated in batteries of assays in the detection and control of the environmental toxic pollutants are stressed. Reference is made to two of the bioassays with plants that may be useful and available in the toxicological evaluation of environmental samples.

Keywords : BIOLOGICAL ASSAY; HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES; ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION [prevention and control]; PLANT POISONING; TOXICITY TESTS.