Occupational chemicals: metabolism, toxicity, and mode of action

Workers experience large interindividual variability in exposure and biological response following exposure to chemicals. Quantitative methods to investigate occupational exposures and their relationship with biomarker levels, toxicokinetics of chemicals, and gene-environment interactions in disease development can be performed to unlock the black-box paradigm in exposure-disease associations. Exposure to a chemical at work is generally greater than that experienced in the wider environment. While inhalation exposure has traditionally been the main focus in exposure assessment, there is growing awareness of the significance of contact and uptake of chemicals through dermal and ingestion routes. Biological monitoring can provide information on exposure and uptake of a chemical, biological response to exposure, early subclinical changes, and susceptibility for disease. Thus, biomarkers can provide an important link between exposure and disease and may be an important tool for risk assessment. Integration of toxicology with exposure assessment, dose-response, and toxicogenomics can be used to improve one's understanding of exposure-disease relationships and shape risk assessment strategies to protect worker health.