title: Human biomonitoring after chemical incidents and during short-term maintenance work as a tool for exposure analysis and assessment.
abstract: Human biomonitoring (HBM) is frequently used for the analysis and assessment of exposure to chemicals under routine working conditions. In recent years, HBM has also been applied to monitor the exposure of the general population, and of emergency responders in the aftermath of chemical incidents. Two examples of targeted HBM programs in the chemical industry are described and discussed in this paper: (1) analysis and assessment of the exposure of firefighters and chemical workers after the spill of p-chloroaniline from a burning chemical barrel, and (2) biomonitoring of maintenance workers potentially exposed to benzene during regular turnarounds. The results of these investigations underline that human biomonitoring contributes substantially to comprehensive exposure analyses, human health risk assessments and communication. In addition, regular HBM surveillance and feedback can assist in the continuous improvement of workplace safety measures and exposure control. In conclusion, data on accidental or short-term exposure to hazardous chemicals are an important source of information for the further development of limit and assessment values, the validation of biomarkers and of targeted HBM programs for both routine monitoring and disaster management.
authors.affiliation: BASF SE, Occupational Medicine & Health Protection, 67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany. Electronic address: michael.bader@basf.com.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bader
authors.affiliation: BASF Antwerpen N.V., Occupational Medicine & Health Protection, 2040 Antwerpen, Belgium.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van Weyenbergh
authors.affiliation: BASF Antwerpen N.V., Occupational Medicine & Health Protection, 2040 Antwerpen, Belgium.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Verwerft
authors.affiliation: BASF Antwerpen N.V., Analytical Services - Central Laboratory, 2040 Antwerpen, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Pul
authors.affiliation: BASF SE, Occupational Medicine & Health Protection, 67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.affiliation: BASF SE, Occupational Medicine & Health Protection, 67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oberlinner
mesh_terms: D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000652:urine*; D001554:Benzene / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D055884:Chemical Hazard Release; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D061388:Firefighters; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000814:Aniline Compounds; D015415:Biomarkers; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D001554:Benzene; C004658:4-chloroaniline
keywords: Biomonitoring; Chemical incidents; Firefighters; Hazardous compounds; Maintenance work