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Abstract Objective We conducted a literature review to highlight the interest of toxicological analysis as a tool for biological monitoring in the management of exposure to chemicals in the workplace. Methods Three databases, Embase, Pubmed, and Scopus, were searched in English and French languages without date restriction. Results Biological monitoring may assess individual exposure to chemicals by different routes, providing additional information for occupational risk assessment, from hazard identification to the control of prevention measures. Biological monitoring considers the internal dose and biological effective dose, regardless of the source or pathway. The most important biological samples used are urine, blood, and occasionally, exhaled air and alternative matrices. It is crucial to select an adequate sampling strategy. Accuracy, precision, reproducibility, recovery, sensitivity and specificity of analytical methods have high influence on the consistency with the limit and reference values concerned. Different analytical techniques can be used (e.g. high performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, tandem mass spectrometry, capillary electrophoresis). Among the limits of biological monitoring, we can cite that biomarkers are usually unable to specify the source of the exposure and may not be sufficiently specific to a particular chemical. Conclusion Biological monitoring can help in exposure assessment of specific chemicals, characterisation of exposure pathways and potential risks.
Badrane et al. (Mon,) studied this question.