Promoting the use of human biomonitoring to assess exposure to chemicals

WHO/Europe promotes the use of human biomonitoring (HBM) as an effective instrument to support policies and actions on chemical safety. HBM‎ is a method of assessing human exposure to chemicals by measuring the concentrations of chemical substances in human body fluids or tissues.

In the WHO European Region, some countries have already established HBM programmes and there is growing interest among others in establishing such programmes. HBM carried out in the European Union demonstrates that all residents are exposed to hazardous chemicals. Alarming concentrations of some hazardous chemicals have been found in mothers, with potential impact on the health of the next generation.

Everyone is exposed to hazardous chemicals in their daily lives. Chemicals are present in the air, in water and in the soil, in consumer products and at the workplace. Hazardous chemicals can cause a variety of health disorders that affect reproductive, nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular and immune systems, and can cause cancer, diabetes and other metabolic problems. Young children are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of chemicals.

Exposures to chemicals are expected to increase following the projected growth in production and use of chemicals. This requires additional regulatory decisions and measures to minimize risks, based on scientific research and reliable assessments.

HBM helps to evaluate whether and to what extent the population is exposed to harmful substances, to identify risks and to recommend risk-reduction measures as needed.

WHO helps countries with the development of national HBM programmes for chemicals of concern, such as lead, mercury, highly hazardous pesticides and endocrine disrupting chemicals. Regular programmes allow identification of the most exposed population groups, analysis of temporal changes in exposure and evaluation of the effectiveness of risk-reduction measures. WHO support includes capacity-building and technology transfer activities, as well as assistance on data collection and strengthening of national health systems.

Policy context

Promoting the use of human biomonitoring and the establishment of HBM programmes is a recognized priority of chemical safety both globally and in the WHO European Region, as set out by the World Health Assembly (Resolution 76.17 on the impact of chemicals, waste and pollution on human health) and the European Environment and Health Process (EHP). Long having been on the EHP agenda, HBM was reconfirmed as a priority in 2023 in the Budapest Declaration and through the establishment of the EHP Partnership on Human Biomonitoring.