Update of the reference and HBM values derived by the German Human Biomonitoring Commission

Abstract

In 2007, we reviewed the working principles and working procedures of the German Human Biomonitoring Commission together with the reference values and human biomonitoring (HBM) values derived up to that time. Since then, the Commission has decided to derive additionally HBM I values on the basis of tolerable daily intakes and has used and evaluated this new approach on the metabolites of (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in urine. Furthermore, the Commission has derived a HBM I value for thallium in urine, has recinded the HBM values for lead in blood, and has updated the HBM values for cadmium in urine. Based on the representative data of the German Environmental Survey on Children from 2003 to 2006 (GerES IV), the Commission has updated the reference values for a large number of environmental pollutants in urine and blood of children in Germany. Since 2007, the Commission has derived new and updated reference values for PFOS and PFOA in human plasma, for thallium in urine, for aromatic amines in urine, for a comprehensive number of phthalate metabolites in urine, and for organochlorine pesticides in human breast milk. Furthermore, the Commission has evaluated background exposure levels for two naphthalene metabolites and acrylamide (using acrylamide-haemoglobin adduct) for the general population. This paper reports the new values, including those already published, in order to provide an updated overview.