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Published on: March 6, 2018
Biological exposure and/or effect limits, facts, fallacies and uncertainties: general principles.
1Coronel Laboratory, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
The Journal of the Society of Occupational Medicine
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Biological monitoring (BM) and biological effect monitoring (BEM) are crucial for validating biological exposure limits. Understanding inter-individual variability is key to improving exposure assessment and health risk evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Toxicology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Biological monitoring (BM) and biological effect monitoring (BEM) are essential for assessing exposure to industrial chemicals.
- Current terminology for these methods is often confusing, with terms like biomonitoring and biological markers also in use.
- Differences exist between countries regarding preferred BM methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss the principles of BM and BEM in relation to biological exposure limits.
- To highlight the uncertainties and fallacies associated with their use.
- To emphasize the need for improved understanding of variability in exposure and effects.
Main Methods:
- Review of general principles of biological monitoring and biological effect monitoring.
- Discussion of inter- and intra-individual variability factors (e.g., workload, genetics, body composition).
- Consideration of toxicokinetic models for individual variability and sex-dependent effects.
Main Results:
- BM and BEM provide crucial data for biological exposure limits, but their validity depends on understanding core principles.
- Significant inter- and intra-individual variability exists, impacting exposure and effect assessments.
- Toxicokinetic models are proposed to address variability, acknowledging potential sex differences.
- Currently, BM methods are suggested for a small fraction (10%) of regulated chemicals.
Conclusions:
- BM and BEM programs offer valuable insights into exposure and health risks beyond environmental monitoring.
- Addressing variability through methods like toxicokinetic modeling is essential for accurate risk assessment.
- Standardized terminology and methods are needed to improve the reliability of biological exposure limits.
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