[Biological markers--a new trend in evaluating the effects of the environment on the body].

Deepening changes in the environment, resulting from the industrialization process, have a negative effect upon human health. They increase specific health effects and bring about higher incidence of common diseases. Biomarkers make it possible to evaluate the organism's reaction toward the hazardous effects of exposure to noxious chemicals of the environmental origin. Biomarkers reflect the changes in the exposed organisms and make it possible to assess exposure, its health effects and susceptibility to toxic agents. At the moment, research is under was aimed at finding biomarkers for the neoplastic process and determining the neurotoxic effects, changes in the reproductive system, immunotoxic effects as well as toxic changes in such organs as liver, kidneys and lungs.