What does biological monitoring measure?

Biological monitoring focuses on assessing the presence and concentration of hazardous substances within an individual's body. This process typically involves analyzing biological samples, such as blood or urine, to directly measure the amount of a specific agent that has entered the body due to exposure. By providing insights into the actual uptake of hazardous materials, biological monitoring helps evaluate the effectiveness of workplace safety measures and the potential health risks posed to workers.

In contrast, measuring environmental levels deals with external contamination and does not provide a direct assessment of exposure to individuals. Understanding health effects relates more to the impact that exposure may have caused rather than the quantification of the substance itself in the body. Duration of exposure is important for assessing risk but does not indicate the actual amount of a hazardous agent present within an individual's system. This specificity is what makes biological monitoring a crucial tool for workplace safety and health evaluations.