ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the concepts, advantages and drawbacks of using biological monitoring methods as complementary strategies to airborne-chemical monitoring methods. Biological-effect monitoring represents the measurement of changes in biochemistry, chromosomes or other physiological functions in the subjects being investigated. The design of a good biological-monitoring strategy requires several factors to be taken into account to ensure that appropriate conclusions can be drawn. The Biological Exposure Indice® (BEI) is estimated from the relationship observed between a particular biological monitoring measure and the corresponding concentrations of the chemical in workplace air. The Biological tolerance value® is a more conservative estimate than the BEI®, and aims to represent an upper limit or ceiling value for biological monitoring estimates which overexposure is considered to have occurred. Biological-effect monitoring usually refers to a variety of assays based on biochemical or chromosomal changes, or changes in the amount or character of particular proteins, enzymes or nucleic acids.
