Introducing the OECD guidance document on occupational biomonitoring: A harmonized methodology for deriving occupational biomonitoring levels (OBL).

Derivation of occupational biomonitoring levels (OBLs) is needed to effectively utilize biomonitoring for assessing exposures to chemical substances, and consequently, implement risk reduction measures to reduce health risks among workers. OBLs are the appropriate option for chemical substances that can be absorbed through the skin. This methodology for derivation of OBLs has been developed in collaboration with scientific and regulatory experts from more than 40 institutes in 15 countries within the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) framework.

A harmonized occupational biomonitoring approach.

Biomonitoring has been widely used in assessing exposures in both occupational and public health complementing chemical risk assessments because it measures the concentrations of chemical substances in human body fluids (e.g., urine and blood).

Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU): Human Biomonitoring Guidance Values Derived for Dimethylformamide.

Within the European Joint Program on Human Biomonitoring HBM4EU, human biomonitoring guidance values (HBM-GVs) for the general population (HBM-GV) or for occupationally exposed adults (HBM-GV) are derived for prioritized substances including dimethylformamide (DMF). The methodology to derive these values that was agreed upon within the HBM4EU project was applied. A large database on DMF exposure from studies conducted at workplaces provided dose-response relationships between biomarker concentrations and health effects.

Human biomonitoring initiative (HBM4EU): Human biomonitoring guidance values (HBM-GVs) derived for cadmium and its compounds.

Aims: The methodology agreed within the framework of the HBM4EU project is used in this work to derive HBM-GVs for the general population (HBM-GV) and for workers (HBM-GV) exposed to cadmium (Cd) and its compounds.

Methods: For Cd, a significant number of epidemiological studies with dose-response relationships are available, in particular for kidney effects. These effects are described in terms of a relation between urinary Cd (U-Cd) or blood Cd (B-Cd) levels and low molecular weight proteinuria (LMWP) markers like beta-2-microglobulin (β2M) and retinol-binding protein (RBP).

Risk of lung cancer associated with occupational exposure to mineral wools: updating knowledge from a french population-based case-control study, the ICARE study.

Objectives: To assess the risk of lung cancer associated with exposure to mineral wools (MWs), while taking into account smoking, asbestos, and crystalline silica exposures.

Methods: The analyses were restricted to men (1350 cases and 1912 controls). Lifelong occupational history was collected.

Night work and breast cancer: a population-based case-control study in France (the CECILE study).

Night work involving disruption of circadian rhythm was suggested as a possible cause of breast cancer. We examined the role of night work in a large population-based case-control study carried out in France between 2005 and 2008. Lifetime occupational history including work schedules of each night work period was elicited in 1,232 cases of breast cancer and 1,317 population controls.

Breast cancer risk by occupation and industry: analysis of the CECILE study, a population-based case-control study in France.

Background: It has been suggested that certain occupational exposures may play a role in breast cancer etiology. The recognition of high-risk occupations may give clues about potential mammary carcinogens in the work place.

Methods: We conducted a population-based case-control study in France including 1,230 breast cancer cases and 1,315 population controls with detailed information on lifetime work history.