[Experiences of environmental and biological monitoring in the construction industry]

After emphasizing the characteristics of the sector and the difficulty of applying traditional industrial hygiene methods for assessing exposure to chemical agents in the construction industry, we have reviewed the major experiences of environmental and biological monitoring that can be derived from the literature. Although the determination of exposure through environmental measures should be considered the most appropriate instrument, it should be paid for the study of specific activities, while it is preferable in many situations the use of simplified tools (such as algorithms and databases) that allow the risk estimation and enable the adoption of safe work procedures and environmental and individual protection devices.