Biological Exposure

Threshold Eimit Values and Biological Exposure Indicies, 5th ed., American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1986, p. 

TEW and Biological Exposure Indices, 1987—1988, ACGIH, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1988. 

OSHA has set a standard to keep blood levels in the occupational work force below 40 //g/dL. ACGIH has set a goal relating to a biological exposure index of 50 //g/dL for lead in blood and 150 pjgjdL creatinine for lead in urine. 

Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents and Biological Exposure Indexes," Proceedings of American Conference of Government Hygienists, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1996. 

Documentation of the Threshold IJmit Values and Biological Exposure Indices, American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), 5th... 

Chemical determinant Sampling time Biological exposure indices Notation... 

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. Threshold limit values for chemical substances and physical agents and biological exposure indices. ACGIH, Cincinnati, OH. 1999. 

Biological exposure index (BEI) Reference values developed by ACGHl as guidelines for the evaluation of potential health hazards. 

Determinant A chemical metabolic product of the change in the body s chemistry caused by exposure to a pollutant. The level of determinant is measured in a biological sample collected from the exposed worker, and compared to the biological exposure index (BEI). Determination The analytical measurement of a pollutant. 

Biological exposure indices (BEI) published by the ACGIH are given in Table 4.35. BEIs represent the levels of determinant which are most likely to be observed in specimens collected from a healthy worker who has been exposed to chemicals to the same extent as a worker with inhalation exposure to the TLV. Due to biological variability it is possible for an individual s measurements to exceed the BEI without incurring increased health risk. If, however, levels in specimens obtained from a worker on different occasions persistently exceed the BEI, or if the majority of levels in specimens obtained from a group of workers at the same workplace exceed the BEI, the cause of the excessive values must be investigated and proper action taken to reduce the exposure. 

Table 4.35 Adopted biological exposure determinants (ACCIH)...

It is advisable to consult the specific documentation published in the Documentation of Threshold Limit Values and Biological Exposure Indices. 

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