Biological monitoring
The measurement of a substance or its metabolite in biological samples (blood, urine, exhaled air) to assess a worker's actual internal exposure to a hazardous substance. Used alongside air monitoring to verify control effectiveness.
Also known as
By jurisdiction
UK HSE
“biological monitoring”Close equivalentCOSHH 2002 regulation 11 includes biological monitoring as a form of health surveillance where appropriate. HSE guidance H&S(G)167 covers biological monitoring for chemical exposures. Biological monitoring guidance values (BMGVs) are published in EH40 and by the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) for specific substances.
Irish HSA
“biological monitoring”Close equivalentThe Chemical Agents Regulations 2001 require biological monitoring where it is relevant to the assessment of exposure and where appropriate measurement techniques exist. HSA guidance references EU biological limit values (BLVs) for specific substances.
US OSHA
“biological monitoring”Close equivalentOSHA requires biological monitoring in substance-specific standards including 29 CFR 1910.1025 (lead, blood-lead), 29 CFR 1910.1027 (cadmium) and others. There is no general OSHA biological monitoring requirement applicable to all chemical exposures.
Practitioner note: Measures what reached the worker, not what was in the air. Valuable where skin absorption or poor RPE fit would be invisible to air sampling alone. Requires informed consent.