vii
Preface
It is frequently challenging to choose the proper laboratory test,
the most relevant biological matrix for testing, or the most in-
formative analyte to provide the best interpretation and clinical
relevance of the chemical test result. Our aim was to compose
a practical and clinically relevant guide to biological monitoring.
After three years of intensive research, discussion, and writing, we
present Clinical Practice of Biological Monitoring, First Edition.
Our primary audience is occupational and environmental
physicians medical, analytical and forensic toxicologists attor-
neys military and safety personnel industrial hygienists and clini-
cal chemists. However, we acknowledge that our audience may
also include students in specialty-training programs who are likely
to be required to use this text. Additionally, private industry per-
forming in-house toxicology testing, governmental and regulatory
agencies, public health services, and risk analysts and insurers may
benefit from use of this text.
The subject matter of this text is human exposure to inor-
ganic, organic, and organometallic substances from industrial and
environmental sources. We lay out occupational and environmen-
tal toxicology basics and biological monitoring methods and ob-
jectives. Moreover, we detail both advantages and limitations of
biological monitoring, as well as practical pre-and post-analytical
considerations.
Methods for assessing exposure are outlined and augmented
with figures and tables at the end of each chapter. As a quick
reference, most chapters include a table that indicates the best
analyte, the best matrix, and a “level of concern” value for each
substance. The level of concern is not a health benchmark, but
Preface
It is frequently challenging to choose the proper laboratory test,
the most relevant biological matrix for testing, or the most in-
formative analyte to provide the best interpretation and clinical
relevance of the chemical test result. Our aim was to compose
a practical and clinically relevant guide to biological monitoring.
After three years of intensive research, discussion, and writing, we
present Clinical Practice of Biological Monitoring, First Edition.
Our primary audience is occupational and environmental
physicians medical, analytical and forensic toxicologists attor-
neys military and safety personnel industrial hygienists and clini-
cal chemists. However, we acknowledge that our audience may
also include students in specialty-training programs who are likely
to be required to use this text. Additionally, private industry per-
forming in-house toxicology testing, governmental and regulatory
agencies, public health services, and risk analysts and insurers may
benefit from use of this text.
The subject matter of this text is human exposure to inor-
ganic, organic, and organometallic substances from industrial and
environmental sources. We lay out occupational and environmen-
tal toxicology basics and biological monitoring methods and ob-
jectives. Moreover, we detail both advantages and limitations of
biological monitoring, as well as practical pre-and post-analytical
considerations.
Methods for assessing exposure are outlined and augmented
with figures and tables at the end of each chapter. As a quick
reference, most chapters include a table that indicates the best
analyte, the best matrix, and a “level of concern” value for each
substance. The level of concern is not a health benchmark, but
