Table 2

Examples of German HBM-I and HBM-II values for environmental pollutants

Matrix/Pollutant

Target population

HBM-I

HBM-II

Lead in blood

Females (18–45) and children < 12

100 μg/L

150 μg/L

Females > 45 and males 18 – 69

150 μg/L

250 μg/L

Mercury in blood

Adults (18–69)

5 μg/L

15 μg/L

Cadmium in urine

Adults (18–25)

1 μg/g creatinine

3 μg/g creatinine

Adults (26–69)

2 μg/g creatinine

5 μg/g creatinine

The Commission on Human Biological Monitoring of the German Federal Environmental Agency established in 1993 recommends two different HBM values: HBM I, the concentration of an environmental toxin in a human biological material below which there is no risk for adverse health effects, and HBM II, the concentration above which there is an increased risk for adverse health effects in susceptible individuals of the general population

Smolders et al. Environmental Health 2008 7(Suppl 1):S2   doi:10.1186/1476-069X-7-S1-S2