ABSTRACT
There are many different types of contaminants present in the environment, ranging from synthetic chemicals, which would not be present in the environment without human intervention, to trace metals that are required for life. Concerns range from possible harmful effects on flora and fauna to possible harm to humans from consuming contaminated organisms. The complete chemical analysis for all possible environmental contaminants in sediments, water, air, and every species and sample of interest would not only be excessively costly, but the facilities to handle so many samples do not exist. Furthermore, such chemical analysis would only establish the presence of contaminants, without revealing how available or active they were within the organism.
