Everyone is exposed to chemicals in their daily lives. Chemicals are present in the air, in water and in soil, in consumer products as well as in the workplace, and they can cause a variety of diseases.
Human biomonitoring (HBM) is a method used to assess human exposure to a chemical by measuring its concentration in human body fluids or tissues. HBM programmes allow us to evaluate whether chemical concentration values in a group or population are harmful, and whether action is needed to reduce the risks from exposure.
Since fetuses are particularly vulnerable to mercury toxicity, HBM of pregnant women allows us to assess their exposure to mercury, for example. If alarming concentrations are detected, prevention measures can be triggered to protect the baby’s health.
Building capacity in countries
Planning and implementing national HBM programmes requires broad expertise alongside relevant capacity. To assist with capacity-building, WHO Europe developed a training course providing comprehensive information on HBM for beginners.
“Human biomonitoring. Basics: educational course” includes scientific information and successful practical examples. The course introduces all stages of HBM surveys and can be used for training public-health and health-care professionals, students of medical, biological and other allied sciences, and decision-makers in the health, environment and other relevant sectors.
The course, developed in collaboration with several leading HBM experts from the WHO European and other Regions, can be adapted to fit the specific needs of countries and audiences. To receive the editable version, please send a request to euroeceh@who.int.
A global and regional priority
HBM is an effective instrument to help guide policies and inform actions that protect people from hazardous exposure to chemicals. Both globally and within the WHO European Region, promoting the use of HBM is a recognized priority of chemical safety, as set out in World Health Assembly Resolution 76.17 on the impact of chemicals, waste and pollution on human health, and by the European Environment and Health Process (EHP) with the Ostrava and Budapest declarations on environment and health. The EHP Partnership on Human Biomonitoring, established at the 2023 Budapest Conference, demonstrates Member States’ interest in and commitment to working together to promote HBM.
WHO Europe supports its Member States in the development of national HBM programmes through capacity-building and other activities.