Current scientific, ethical and social issues of biomonitoring in the European Union.
Occupational health regulations and practices in EU Member States have been directed, to a large extent, by the principle of social protection, aiming to protect both the health and the employment of every (candidate) worker. Medical and biomonitoring practices have played a major role in identifying health problems at work and also in establishing preventive measures. Lately, a new tendency is occurring that reduces health protection to compliance with a limited set of standards for workplaces and individuals. According to this approach, 'predictive' medical tests might be used for the selection of the fittest workers. At a time when the labor market is evolving towards less stable forms of work, such a 'standardization approach' may lead to an unequal occupational health policy: the better off being more protected, the more exposed being less protected and the more susceptible being excluded. Instead, biomonitoring tools should only be developed as part of medical surveillance and used for those who need it most.
Van Damme
K
K
Center for Human Genetics, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven 3000, Belgium. karel.vandamme@med.kuleuven.ac.be
Casteleyn
L
L
D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000941:ethics*; D005062:European Union; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009787:Occupational Medicine / Q000592:standards*