Human biomonitoring: facts and figures

2015

This report summarizes the available human biomonitoring (HBM) data in the WHO European Region with a focus on children's exposures. It is intended to support the evaluation of the status of Parma Declaration commitments under the Regional Priority Goal 4, "Preventing disease arising from chemical, biological and physical environments" and the commitment to "…develop a consistent and rational approach to human biomonitoring as a complementary tool to assist evidence-based public health and environmental measures…". The report provides background information on the principles and applications of HBM, summarizes results of recently conducted international and national surveys and research projects, provides summaries of temporal trends and spatial patterns for specific pollutants, and outlines major accomplishments, data gaps and priority environmental health issues based on the analyses of HBM data.