title: Environmental and occupational toxicants.
abstract: Biological monitoring is the analysis of human biological materials for a substance of interest and/or its metabolites (biomarkers) or a biochemical change that occurs as a result of an exposure to provide a quantitative measure of exposure or dose. These measures can be used in epidemiological studies either directly as estimates of exposure or indirectly in the calibration of other exposure assessment methods, such as questionnaires. This chapter will discuss important methodological considerations for the implementation of biomarkers of exogenous exposure in epidemiology by focusing on biomarker characteristics (e.g. variability, half-life) and their application in different study designs.
authors.affiliation: University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. frank.devocht@manchester.ac.uk
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Vocht
authors.forename: Jelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vlaanderen
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Povey
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balbo
authors.forename: Roel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vermeulen
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D006207:Half-Life; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012107:Research Design
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015386:Hazardous Substances