Biomonitoring (BM) of occupational exposure to chemicals is a longstanding practice in occupational health risk assessment and occupational health practice. However, there are wide differences in its use between different regions and countries. In occupational health interventions, BM can assist in the evaluation and demonstration of the effectiveness of policy actions, measures already taken at a company level to reduce exposure and the detection of emerging and well-known contaminants. Additionally, and since BM considers aggregated exposures (exposure to the same substance from different sources and by different exposure routes), it provides a comprehensive exposure picture compared to ambient monitoring (e.g., air monitoring, surfaces contamination measurement, skin contamination).
The focus of this Research Topic is to describe the potential of BM as an exposure assessment tool in the context of occupational health, distinguish the role of BM in exposure assessment and health surveillance and, finally, to clarify ethical and communication aspects to increase the use of BM as an exposure assessment tool in the occupational health context.
In this Research Topic on “Biomonitoring as an exposure assessment tool in occupational health - Challenges and way forward”, we are welcoming contributions related to the topic as outlined above. Specifically, the following areas of research are of interest:
- Research work describing the use of BM for exposure and risk assessment
- Case studies where BM was used to change/improve risk management solutions
- Examples of initiatives where BM data were successfully used under the scope of the science-to-policy interface;
- Studies providing scientific evidence of the use of BM as part of risk assessment, and consequently, supporting regulatory action
Biomonitoring (BM) of occupational exposure to chemicals is a longstanding practice in occupational health risk assessment and occupational health practice. However, there are wide differences in its use between different regions and countries. In occupational health interventions, BM can assist in the evaluation and demonstration of the effectiveness of policy actions, measures already taken at a company level to reduce exposure and the detection of emerging and well-known contaminants. Additionally, and since BM considers aggregated exposures (exposure to the same substance from different sources and by different exposure routes), it provides a comprehensive exposure picture compared to ambient monitoring (e.g., air monitoring, surfaces contamination measurement, skin contamination).
The focus of this Research Topic is to describe the potential of BM as an exposure assessment tool in the context of occupational health, distinguish the role of BM in exposure assessment and health surveillance and, finally, to clarify ethical and communication aspects to increase the use of BM as an exposure assessment tool in the occupational health context.
In this Research Topic on “Biomonitoring as an exposure assessment tool in occupational health - Challenges and way forward”, we are welcoming contributions related to the topic as outlined above. Specifically, the following areas of research are of interest:
- Research work describing the use of BM for exposure and risk assessment
- Case studies where BM was used to change/improve risk management solutions
- Examples of initiatives where BM data were successfully used under the scope of the science-to-policy interface;
- Studies providing scientific evidence of the use of BM as part of risk assessment, and consequently, supporting regulatory action