Environmental and biological monitoring in the estimation of absorbed doses of pesticides

Exposure to pesticides affects most of the population, not only persons occupationally exposed. In a context of high variability of exposure, biological monitoring is important because of the various routes by which exposure can occur and because it assesses both occupational and non-occupational exposure.The main aim of this paper was to critically compare estimates of absorbed dose measured by environmental and biological monitoring in situations in which they could both be applied.The combination of exposure measurements and biological monitoring was found to provide extremely important information on the behaviour of employees, and on the proper use and effectiveness of personal protection equipment.

► Exposure to pesticides affects most of the population not only occupationally exposed. ► The absorbed doses can be estimated from exposure data (skin and respiratory). ► Biological monitoring is the best way to confirm absorption estimates. ► In field studies, the measurements can provide information on the behaviour of workers. ► The results confirm that skin exposure, can contribute more than 90% of the real dose.