The term human biomonitoring refers to the direct measurement of toxic chemicals (or their metabolites) inside the human body — that is, in blood, urine, hair, or breast milk.
As stated by the Italian National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità – ISSalute), “human biomonitoring moves from estimating environmental exposure to directly measuring a harmful contaminant within the human body.”
Ready to discover what human biomonitoring is, what bioindicators are, and why they play such an important role in health prevention? Let’s get started!
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What is human biomonitoring?
Better known by its acronym HBM (human biomonitoring), this approach is based on the idea that environmental exposure to toxic agents occurs through multiple pathways (inhalation, ingestion, skin contact) and from various sources (air, water, food, consumer products). Therefore, biomonitoring provides a more comprehensive picture — the internal dose, or the actual amount absorbed by the body.
Another definition is provided by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): “Direct measurement of the amount of toxic chemical compounds present in the body.” These measurements are often carried out using blood and urine samples.
In short, human biomonitoring is a tool that complements traditional analytical methods, allowing scientists to:
- determine the internal dose of harmful substances;
- compare exposure levels among different populations;
- identify substances for which reducing exposure should be a priority;
- assess the effectiveness of measures taken to protect human health (such as legislative restrictions on specific compounds).
What are bioindicators?
Bioindicators are living organisms or simple biological systems used to assess environmental quality or the effects of stress, based on their response to pollutants or altered conditions.
Bioindicators are not always part of the human organism. For instance, plants, lichens, mosses, or invertebrates can be used as bioindicators of air or water pollution.
In the context of human biomonitoring, however, certain substances can be considered bioindicators — including heavy metals. These represent an external chemical or physical agent rather than an internal biological marker.
Why is biomonitoring strategic?
There are several reasons why human biomonitoring deserves attention:
- prevention: measuring exposure to toxic agents makes it possible to anticipate potential health effects and take timely action;
- regulatory policies: biomonitoring helps verify whether legislative measures adopted to reduce exposure to toxic agents (for example, in food) are actually effective;
- awareness: data obtained from human biomonitoring can raise awareness among citizens and policymakers about the importance of reducing exposure to harmful substances.
An essential tool for public health protection
In an era where exposure to toxic agents is widespread — found in consumer products, air, water, and food — human biomonitoring has become an essential tool for protecting both individual and public health.
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