Biomarker

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-003284",
  "term": "Biomarker",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. Biochemical, physiological, and histological changes in organisms that can be used to estimate either exposure to chemicals or the effects of exposure to chemicals.\n\n2. A contaminant-induced physiological, biochemical, or histological response of an organism.\n\n3. An indicator of changes or events in biological systems. Biological markers of exposure are cellular, biochemical, analytical, or molecular measures that are obtained from biological media such as tissues, cells, or fluids and are indicative of exposure to an agent. Biomarkers of effect are quantifiable changes, indicating exposure to a compound, while biomarkers of susceptibility are characteristics that make an individual susceptible to the effects of an exposure.\n\n4. Biochemical, physiological, or histological indicators of either exposure to or effects of xenobiotic chemicals at the suborganismal or organismal level.\n\n5. A specific biochemical in the body which has a particular molecular feature that makes it useful for measuring the progress of disease or the effects of treatment.\n\n6. Indicators of changes or events in human biological systems. Biological markers of exposure refer to cellular, biochemical, or molecular measures that are obtained from biological media such as human tissues, cells, or fluids and are indicative of exposure to environmental contaminants.\n\n7. Indicator of changes or events in biological systems. Biological markers of exposure refer to cellular, biochemical, analytical, or molecular measures that are obtained from biological media such as tissues, cells, or fluids and are indicative of exposure to an agent.\n\n8. A molecular indicator of a specific biological property; a biochemical feature or facet that can be used to measure the progress of disease or the effects of treatment.\n\n9. The variation, induced by a substance foreign to the body, in cellular or biochemical components or processes, structures, or functions that is measurable in a biological system or sample (McCarthy et al. 1991:2).\n\n10. A molecular or cellular indicator (or “marker”) of an event or condition (exposure, effect, susceptibility) in a biological system or sample. It is the product of an interaction between a contaminant and some target molecule or cell.\n\n11. Cellular, biochemical, analytical, or molecular measures obtained from biological media (e.g., tissues, cells, fluids) that can indicate exposure to a chemical. [U.S. EPA Guidelines for Exposure Assessment]",
  "subject": "Measurements",
  "references": [
    "Waste and Cleanup Risk Assessment Glossary",
    "CADDIS Glossary",
    "Exposure Factors Handbook: Glossary",
    "Huggett et al. 1992; EMAP Master Glossary",
    "CancerWeb 2005; Thesaurus of Terms Used in Microbial Risk Assessment",
    "NRC 1991; Thesaurus of Terms Used in Microbial Risk Assessment",
    "IPCS 2004; Thesaurus of Terms Used in Microbial Risk Assessment",
    "EPA Potential Implications of Genomics for Regulatory and Risk Assessment Applications at EPA Glossary. EPA Science Policy Council at http://www.epa.gov/osa/pdfs/EPA-Genomics-White-Paper.pdf",
    "USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Glossary of Avian Terms For Use in Avian Conservation Biology",
    "EPA Report on the Environment Glossary at http://www.epa.gov/ncea/roe/glossary.htm; Report on the Environment (ROE) Glossary",
    "ExpoBox Terminology; EPA ExpoBox Terminology"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/biomarker/"
}