Enterprise HealthBiological Monitoring
Measuring a substance or its metabolite in a worker's blood, urine or breath to gauge actual absorbed exposure.
Key facts
- Measures absorbed dose in blood, urine or breath (e.g., blood lead).
- Compared against biological exposure indices (BEIs).
- Complements air sampling by measuring actual uptake.
What it means
Where air sampling estimates potential exposure, biological monitoring measures what a worker actually absorbed — blood lead, urinary mercury, or solvent metabolites, compared against biological exposure indices. It is a core part of surveillance for heavy-metal and chemical exposures, with results trended over time and tied to removal protocols when thresholds are crossed.
Frequently asked
How is biological monitoring different from air sampling?
Air sampling estimates potential exposure in the environment; biological monitoring measures what the worker actually absorbed — like blood lead or urinary metabolites. The two together give a fuller exposure picture.
When is biological monitoring used?
Chiefly in surveillance for heavy metals and certain chemicals, where results are trended over time and compared to biological exposure indices. Crossing a threshold can trigger medical-removal protocols.
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