Methods for Biological Monitoring

This manual provides methods of biological monitoring for laboratories engaged in the analysis of samples of human origin. Although the methods were developed primarily to assess toxic exposures in the workplace, they may be used in situations of suspected contamination or fugitive emissions.

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This manual provides methods of biological monitoring for laboratories engaged in the analysis of samples of human origin. Although the methods were developed primarily to assess toxic exposures in the workplace, they may be used in situations of suspected contamination, fugitive emissions or other potential human encounters with hazardous materials. The first section concentrates on the principles of biological monitoring, it discusses the rationale for monitoring humans; routes of entry and excretion; metabolism; biological modelling for predictive purposes; sample collection - blood, urine and breath; in vivo monitoring techniques; quality control; laboratory safety; and biological limit values. The second section looks at the measurement of levels of hazardous agents and contains a 54 step-by-step laboratory methods covering more than 84 analytes. These analytes include inorganic, organo-metallic and organic substances as well as metabolites of hazardous agents and products of biochemical changes.