Future need for development of occupational exposure databases in Hungary

The data on the occupational exposure measured by the hygienic network laboratories in Hungary were collected during the last 20 years. The data refer to the air pollutant chemicals and to the biological monitoring. The structure of the database of occupational exposure that has been used in the last decade is intended to be changed according to the guideline of the European Working Group on Exposure Registers in Europe. The current databases on the occupational exposure contain data only related to the substances responsible for air pollution. It would be desirable to complement the database with data from the biological monitoring, which also characterize the occupational exposure. It would then be possible to harmonize two distinct databases, and the risk assessment of the employees would become more thorough. This practice would require close cooperation of several organizations. It is desirable to set minimum requirements against the measurement techniques, thus, giving results that are accepted in the exposure database. It is necessary to encourage the use of direct reading instruments in collecting the exposure data and to complement the requirements of the strategies of data collection and the system of evaluation.