Human Biomonitoring (HBM) measures the internal exposure of people to hazardous substances. For this purpose, the parent compound or their metabolites are analyzed in blood or urine. Human Biomonitoring assesses the total internal dose of a hazardous substance that has been absorbed by each individual and records, quantifies and assesses exposure-associated health risks.
HBM is used both at the workplace and in the environment to distinguish between workplace and environmental health hazards and risks. Various assessment values are available for interpreting the results such as biological limit values (BGW) of the German Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS), biological tolerance (BAT) and guiding values (BLW) of the German Research Foundation (DFG), Biological Exposure Indices of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (US-ACGIH) and reference and HBM values of the German Environment Agency (UBA).
HBM researchers at IPA constantly develop new and state-of-the-art analytical methods for HBM. In order to identify the most suitable biomarkers, they also study the metabolism and toxicokinetics of hazardous chemicals in the human body after controlled oral, dermal or inhalation exposures. Finally, sensitive and specific quantitative analytical methods are developed for these biomarkers. Ultimately, the methods are used for both research and routine purposes to assess exposure and health risks in individuals and populations. HBM researchers also advise the accident insurance institutions and their member companies, i.e. to establish customized HBM strategies for specific chemicals or to evaluate the efficiency of health preventive measures at the workplace.
Holger Koch. Dr. rer. nat.
Section Manager
“HBM is the best tool for an integral assessment of both workplace and environmental chemical exposures and their health impact. It is especially useful for tracking exposures that can’t be captured by classical air measurements, like substances absorbed through the skin or those with very long elimination half times. HBM is also excellent in monitoring the intervention success of exposure reduction measures or the impact of personal protection gear.”