Background
Biological monitoring has enjoyed increasing attention in recent years in chemical risk assessment at workplace. Biological monitoring is based on the analysis of hazardous substances or their metabolites in urine, blood or breath, and is used to assess exposure by inhalation, ingestion and absorption through the skin. Exposure through the skin and the protection provided by protective devices, as well as accumulation of the chemical substances in the body, cannot be estimated with ambient monitoring. Still, the physicians and health care nurses have great problems in deciding how they should act at the workplace to assure the health of workers. The workshop provides a possibility for participants to present their plans and projects, and to receive feedback from the keynote lecturers and other participants.
The workshop is organised in connection with the International Symposium on Biological Monitoring in Occupational and Environmental Health (ISBM2010). Participation in the workshop will also enable participation in the plenary sessions and panel discussion of the symposium that are outside of the workshop. Also the meals and the social programme are shared.
Objectives
The workshop aims to introduce useful new techniques for the evaluation of chemical exposure by using biomonitoring methods together with occupational hygiene measurements. The participants have a possibility to exchange views and knowledge on recent developments in practical biomonitoring and industrial hygiene at workplaces. The aim is to build links between biomonitoring and industrial hygiene studies.
Main topics
• advantages and disadvantages of biomonitoring in industrial hygiene studies;
• comparison between new sophisticated and conventional biomonitoring methods;
• challenges in evaluation of metal exposure
• indicator compounds in multi-exposure and heavily protected workers' exposure evaluation
Participants' posters and presentations on above mentioned topics are welcomed. The workshop will provide readiness to plan and run programs to measure chemical exposure at workplaces.
Target group
Occupational health professionals, practitioners and researchers.
Workshop structure and working method
The workshop will be interactive by nature, encouraging the participants to share their own experiences and knowledge in the area.
Lecturers
Claude Viau, Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
Kate Jones, Principal Scientist, Biological Monitoring (specialist in biological monitoring for organic chemicals), Health and Safety Laboratory, Buxton, United Kingdom
Tobias Weiss, Dr. rer. nat., Head of Department Human Biomonitoring, IPA - Institute of Prevention and Occupational Medicine, German Social Accident Insurance Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
Mirja Kiilunen, Adjunct professor, Senior Adviser, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
Juha Laitinen, Adjunct professor, Senior Scientist, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Kuopio, Finland
Venue and accommodation
The workshop will take place at Hanasaari Cultural Centre www.hanasaari.fi. Hanasaari is located in a beautiful seaside setting on the border between Helsinki and Espoo.
For reservation and registration, please refer to www.ttl.fi/isbm2010.
Registration fee
For early registration (until 1 May 2010) EUR 450.
For late registration (from 2 May onwards) EUR 550.