Krause C, Angerer J, Butte W, Eis D, Ewers U, Heinzow B, Kappos AD, Kemper FH, Kruse H, Lacour M, Schweinsberg F, Neumann HG, Schwenk M, Wichmann HE, Wilhelm M (2000): Zur umweltmedizinischen Beurteilung von Humanbiomonitoring-Befunden in der ärztlichen Praxis. - [Evaluation of biomonitoring results in medical practice]
Umweltmed. Forsch. Praxis 5 (3): 177-180.

The commission on 'human biomonitoring' of the Federal Environmental Agency (UBA) has pointed out its position on basic and practical issues of 'human biomonitoring'. On the one hand important terms have been defined, the possibilities and requirements of human-biomonitoring have been described and the criteria for analytical quality control have been defined by the commission. On the other hand the commission has published a concept of reference and human-biomonitoring (HBM) values for the application of human- biomonitoring in environmental medicine. Such guideline values were derived for several environmental toxins. Reference values derived on a statistical basis do not represent health-related criteria for the evaluation of human-biological data. They are intended to characterize the upper margin of the current background exposure of the general population at a given time. In contrast, HBM values are defined on the basis of potential health effects. So far, reference values have been derived for lead in blood, cadmium in blood and urine, mercury in blood and urine, PCP in serum and urine, PCB-138, -153, -180, sum of PCB, beta -HCH and HCB in blood and plasma as well as for PCB and organochlorine pesticides in human milk. HBM values have been published for lead in blood, cadmium in urine, mercury in blood and urine as well as PCP in serum and urine. Recommendations on other substances are being prepared. Reference and HBM values are intended to guarantee a uniform evaluation procedure throughout the nation.