Biosensors for environmental monitoring

The intention of this article is to reflect the advances and describe the trends on biosensors for environmental applications. Biosensors are useful analytical tools for environmental monitoring, capable of providing results in real time, simple to use, portable and cost-effective. Some examples of biosensors in advanced stage of development, which have been applied to real samples, as well as of commercial devices, are given. Biosensors designed for measurement of either specific chemicals or their biological effects, such as toxicity biosensors and endocrine effect biosensors, are discussed. This overview also addresses the support provided by public institutions for biosensor research in the USA, Japan and, especially, in Europe. Future prospects of biosensor technology, with special emphasis in the development of new sensing elements, are foreseen.