Toxicological importance of human biomonitoring of metallic and metalloid elements in different biological samples

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology 2015-06, Vol.80, p.287-297
• Main Authors: Gil, F., Hernández, A.F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological matrices; Biological monitoring; Biomarkers; Biomarkers of exposure; Environmental Exposure; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants - chemistry; Humans; Metallic and metalloid elements; Metals - chemistry; Metals - metabolism; Metals - toxicity; Reference limits
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2015.03.025

•Human biomonitoring has become an important tool for the assessment of metallic and metalloid elements exposure.•Blood and urine are the most used and accepted matrices for human biomonitoring.•Saliva, placenta, meconium, hair, nails, teeth or breast milk are non-conventional samples.•Non-conventional samples may have practical advantages and would provide additional information on health risk.•The validation of analytical procedures is necessary for use of non-conventional samples in biomonitoring programs. Human biomonitoring has become an important tool for the assessment of internal doses of metallic and metalloid elements. These elements are of great significance because of their toxic properties and wide distribution in environmental compartments. Although blood and urine are the most used and accepted matrices for human biomonitoring, other non-conventional samples (saliva, placenta, meconium, hair, nails, teeth, breast milk) may have practical advantages and would provide additional information on health risk. Nevertheless, the analysis of these compounds in biological matrices other than blood and urine has not yet been accepted as a useful tool for biomonitoring. The validation of analytical procedures is absolutely necessary for a proper implementation of non-conventional samples in biomonitoring programs. However, the lack of reliable and useful analytical methodologies to assess exposure to metallic elements, and the potential interference of external contamination and variation in biological features of non-conventional samples are important limitations for setting health-based reference values. The influence of potential confounding factors on metallic concentration should always be considered. More research is needed to ascertain whether or not non-conventional matrices offer definitive advantages over the traditional samples and to broaden the available database for establishing worldwide accepted reference values in non-exposed populations.