[Studies of biotransformation and liver function from the occupational medicine viewpoint]

General principles of biotransformation are described. Using examples from literature interindividual differences in the biotransformation capacity (induction and disposition) are discussed, especially concerning the combined effect of several xenobiotics (i.e., chemical working materials, ethanol, and drugs). The indocyanine greene excretion rate, the galactose elimination capacity and the 14C-aminopyrine breath test are described in detail as quantitative liver function tests.