Summary and recommendations in French and Spanish.

A guide to the concepts and principles governing the use of biomarkers to assess the risks to human health posed by exposure to chemical agents. Emphasis is placed on criteria for the selection and validation of appropriate biomarkers of exposure, of toxic effect, and of susceptibility in either individuals or sub-populations. The book also explains how the use of validated biomarkers to monitor exposed populations can provide the basis for early public health interventions. The book opens with background information on the uses of biomarkers for health risk assessment, clinical diagnosis, and the monitoring of exposure, followed by a discussion of the principles and methods governing their selection and validation. The ethical and social issues that need to be considered when designing research projects are also discussed. The main part of the book sets out guidelines, supported by examples from recent research, for the selection and use of biomarkers of exposure, of effect, of carcinogenicity, and of susceptibility. For biomarkers of effect, the book concentrates on biomarkers that are currently used or under development to assess toxic effects on the hepatic, renal, haematological, immune, pulmonary, reproductive, developmental and nervous systems. For biomarkers of genotoxic carcinogens, the book describes currently available techniques using DNA adducts, protein adducts, cytogenic methods, chromosome damage, sister chromatid exchange, micronuclei, aneuploidy, and mutation. Biomarkers for non-genotoxic carcinogens are also briefly discussed. The concluding chapter, on susceptibility, alerts researchers to the many factors that can affect individual susceptibility to the toxic effects of chemicals.

eng rus.

jpn pol.

WHODOC

WHO monograph

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