Researchers have discovered that morphological changes in an aquatic microbe may be used as a biosensor to determine levels of toxic heavy metals and metal-like substances in air or water.

Andrew McKay, a PhD student at CRC CARE and The University of Queensland, is
studying the changes that take place in a unique water microbe when it is exposed to
arsenic, cadmium and lead ­ industrial and natural contaminants around the world.

"Their growth and reproduction rates slow down and their shape changes ­ becoming
star or V-shaped.

"And of course, at high levels of the toxins, they die."

To develop a biosensor, the observed changes would first have to be standardized or equated to the levels of contamination and risk to human and animals.

Source: Research Australia (pdf file)