Real-time biomonitoring using microbial fuel cell (MFC) based biosensors have been demonstrated in several laboratory studies, but field validation is lacking. This study describes the long-term performance of an MFC based biosensor developed for real-time monitoring of changes in the water quality of a metal-contaminated stream. After a startup in the laboratory, biosensors were deployed in a stream close to an active mining complex in Sudbury, ON, Canada. Three sites within the stream were selected for biosensors installation based on their positions relative to the mining complex discharge points - upstream (lowest heavy metals concentration), midpoint and downstream. The biosensors installed at these sites were able to detect, in real-time, temporal changes in the water quality over a 2-month period. The biosensor response was confirmed by the results of a conventional toxicity assay (48-h acute Daphnia magna) as well as analytical measurements of heavy metals concentration in the stream. We conclude that the biosensor could detect changes in the overall water quality of the stream despite the uncontrolled situations typical for field operations as compared to laboratory conditions. To further explain the results observed during the field test, the rapid Microtox bioassay and D. magna assay were used to investigate the possible contributions of the two dominant mining metals (Nickel and Copper) to water toxicity in the test area.

在几项实验室研究中已经证明了使用基于微生物燃料电池（MFC）的生物传感器进行实时生物监测，但缺乏现场验证。这项研究描述了基于MFC的生物传感器的长期性能，该传感器是为实时监测金属污染的河流水质变化而开发的。在实验室启动后，生物传感器被部署在加拿大安大略省萨德伯里一个活跃的采矿综合体附近的溪流中。根据河流相对于采矿综合排放点的位置，在溪流中选择三个位置进行生物传感器安装-上游（最低重金属浓度），中点和下游。安装在这些地点的生物传感器能够实时检测两个月内水质的时间变化。水蚤（Daphnia magna）以及水流中重金属浓度的分析测量。我们得出的结论是，与实验室条件相比，尽管野外作业通常处于不受控制的情况，但生物传感器仍可以检测出溪流的总体水质变化。为了进一步解释在现场测试中观察到的结果，使用了快速的Microtox生物测定法和D. magna测定法来研究两种主要的采矿金属（镍和铜）对测试区域中水毒性的可能贡献。