Biomonitoring Tools, Techniques and Approaches for Environmental Assessments

Environmental issues have gained significant prominence on national, sub-regional, regional, and global agendas due to the recognition of the crucial role and advantages of environmental preservation in achieving sustainable development. The utilisation of environmental assessment is imperative for informed decision-making in developmental projects. It functions as a methodical process for recognising, predicting, and evaluating the ecological consequences of planned activities and initiatives. This process is executed prior to making substantial decisions and commitments. Biomonitoring presents a compelling method for evaluating environmental contamination inside the ecosystem. We will cover various biomonitoring methodologies, such as bioaccumulation, biochemical changes, morphological and behavioural observation, population- and community-level approaches, and modelling. The potential uses of biomonitoring mostly involve evaluating existing environmental contamination, aiding in bioremediation efforts, predicting toxicological effects, and investigating toxicological mechanisms through research. Therefore, this chapter will expound upon the subject of environmental assessment and provide an overview of biomonitoring. It will delve into the various techniques and approaches employed in environmental biomonitoring, as well as examine the factors that exert influence on this practise. Furthermore, it will explore the prevailing trends in biomonitoring, elucidate the concepts of bioindicators and biomarkers, and address the challenges and potential prospects that lie ahead for biomonitoring.