Biomonitoring as an Underused Exposure Assessment Tool in Occupational Safety and Health Context—Challenges and Way Forward

Susana Viegas, Maryam Zare Jeddi, Nancy B. Hopf, Jos Bessems, Nicole Palmen, Karen S. Galea, Kate Jones, Peter Kujath, Radu-Corneliu Duca, Hans Verhagen, Tiina Santonen and Robert Pasanen-Kase
Additional contact information
Susana Viegas: NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1600–560 Lisbon, Portugal
Maryam Zare Jeddi: Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, 35100 Padova, Italy
Nancy B. Hopf: Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, 1000 Lausanne, Switzerland
Jos Bessems: VITO—Flemish Institute for Technological Research, BE-2400 Mol, Belgium
Nicole Palmen: RIVM—National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, 3721 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
Karen S. Galea: Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Edinburgh EH14 4AP, UK
Kate Jones: Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Harpur Hill, Buxton SK17 9JN, UK
Peter Kujath: BAuA—Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, D-10317 Berlin, Germany
Radu-Corneliu Duca: Unit Environmental Hygiene and Human Biological Monitoring, Department of Health Protection, National Health Laboratory, Dudelange, 3555 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Hans Verhagen: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 43126 Parma, Italy
Tiina Santonen: FIOH—Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 40, FI-00032 Työterveyslaitos, Finland
Robert Pasanen-Kase: State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Labour Directorate Section Chemicals and Work (ABCH), 3003 Berne, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-21

Abstract: Recent advances in analytical chemistry have allowed a greater possibility of using quantitative approaches for measuring human exposure to chemicals. One of these approaches is biomonitoring (BM), which provides unequivocal evidence that both exposure and uptake of a chemical have taken place. BM has been a longstanding practice in occupational health for several reasons. BM integrates exposure from all routes. It can help identify unintentional and unexpected exposures and assess the effectiveness of existing risk-management measures. BM also provides relevant information to support policy development by delivering better evidence of workers’ exposure to chemical substances, even within the framework of the present regulations. Thus, BM can allow for both the evaluation of the impact of regulation and identification of further needs for new or improved regulation. However, despite all these well-recognized advantages, BM is currently an underused exposure assessment tool. This paper provides an overview of the key aspects to be considered when using BM in the context of occupational health interventions. Additionally, this paper describes the potential of BM as an exposure assessment tool, distinguishing the role of BM in exposure assessment and health surveillance and clarifies ethical and communication aspects to guarantee that general data protection regulations are followed. In addition, actions and research needs are identified (particularly with reference to the European situation), which aim to encourage the increased use of BM as an exposure assessment tool.

Keywords: biological monitoring; exposure assessment; risk assessment; occupational health; biological guidance value; biological limit value (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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