Human biomonitoring (HBM) is a tool of health-related environmental monitoring with which populations are examined for their exposure to pollutants from the environment. The results are also intended to provide information as to whether (further) pollutant reduction measures are needed and on the effects of existing measures. HBM plays an essential role in environmental health and the assessment of pollution levels in the population, population groups or individuals. HBM makes it possible to determine levels of contamination in individuals and, where applicable, some of the biological effects triggered by it. It is thus subdivided into human biological monitoring of exposure and biological effect monitoring.
Based on your opinion, what do you think about the importance of using HBM in human health related studies?
Regards,
Ata
Using HBM in human health related studies is very important. It is also useful in providing information about impact of certain pollutants on human health in addition of providing appropriate strategies for the reduction of their negative effects.
By using HBM, more precise data on the impact of pollutants on human health are obtained, and should, where possible, be part of the risk assessment methodology.
Only human biomonitoring can reveal whether and to what extent a chemical hazards were really taken up by humans from the environment or food.
This information cannot be provided by ambient monitoring of air, water, or other environmental samples.
Human biomonitoring is also a useful tool to support environment and health policy-making, because it can provide quantitative information regarding the actual exposure of a population and support the evaluation of preventive actions.
Human biomonitoring allows us to measure our exposure to chemicals by measuring either the substances themselves, their metabolites or markers of subsequent health effects in body fluids or tissues. Information on human exposure can then be linked to data on sources and epidemiological surveys, in order to inform research on the exposure-response relationships in humans.
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