ACGIH® will present ACGIH® Certificate Program in Biomonitoring as a 3-module Certificate Program on the following dates and at the following times:
- Module 1 – Introduction to Biomonitoring - September 12, 2017
- Module 2 – Biomonitoring Guidance Values - September 19, 2017
- Module 3 – Practical Considerations of Biomonitoring - September 26, 2017
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Central Time
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Mountain Time
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time
In response to the expanding recognition of the central role of biomonitoring in the assessment of environmental and occupational exposures, the ACGIH® Biological Exposure Indices (BEI®) Committee has developed a new Certificate Program. This course consists of three modules and a case study.
Module 1 – Introduction to Biomonitoring provides the basic knowledge necessary to set up your own workplace biomonitoring program. An overview of the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of an exogenous substance in the human organism is given to understand internal dose (exposure biomarker). Absorption depends not only on job exposures and physical and chemical properties of the substance, but also on the route of exposure, especially via the lungs and the skin. A biological marker reflecting the internal dose brings us closer to understanding systemic adverse effects than traditional industrial hygiene measurements do. The internal dose of the toxic agent is used in monitoring workers’ exposures (biological exposure indices – BEIs®). Sampling strategies, especially the timing of the biological sample, are of critical importance; therefore, factors affecting sampling strategies such as half-life of the substance and its metabolites, exposure variability, and inter-worker variability will be discussed.
Module 2 – Biomonitoring Guidance Values reiterates the value of biological monitoring to assess worker exposures by all routes. The majority of the module explores the different types of guidance values and regulations that exist worldwide to help interpret biomonitoring data. These include regulations from U.S. OSHA, and a wide variety of guidance values from many countries and organizations including ACGIH® BEIs®, and guidance values from Germany, the UK, Finland, France, Japan and the European Union (SCOELs). The module describes the derivation and use of guidance values using the ACGIH® BEIs® as examples. The basis of BEIs® as well as practical considerations such as analytical methods, which samples to collect and when, as well as a discussion of the notations that are essential for the interpretation of biological monitoring data are included.
Module 3 – Practical Considerations of Biomonitoring is a “how to” guide on designing and conducting biological monitoring in the workplace. The module has been created and is presented by personnel who have decades of industrial biological monitoring experience. The student will receive practical guidance on what should be considered when faced with an exposure scenario that should be evaluated using biological monitoring. At the conclusion of this session, students will have the knowledge and tools to conduct biological monitoring.
In addition to the three course modules, attendees will be asked to complete a self-paced chemical substance biomonitoring case study.
To earn this Certificate, attendees must:
- Successfully complete the three program modules and their tests
- Successfully complete a self-paced case study using the ACGIH® BEI® Documentation
- After participating in this Certificate Program, attendees will better understand:
- The basics of biomonitoring, including when biomonitoring is appropriate
- International biomonitoring standards and guidance values, how they are developed, and how to apply them
- ACGIH® BEIs®, notations, and how they are developed
- Practical issues of setting up a biomonitoring program including sampling, analysis, informed consent, and ethical issues
- Laboratory considerations, communications, data analysis and how to report findings
- How to develop a biomonitoring program for chemicals in the absence of published guidance values
ACGIH® is pleased to offer attendees an audio option. U.S. and Canadian attendees can connect to the audio portion of the course via the toll-free audio telephone link or listen to the audio portion through an audio stream directly through their computer. Other international participants can listen via the audio stream without incurring additional telephone charges.
Module 1 – Introduction to Biomonitoring will be presented by Nancy B. Hopf, PhD. Leena A. Nylander-French, PhD, CIH and Glenn Talaska, PhD, CIH also contributed to the development of this module.
Module 2 – Biomonitoring Guidance Values will be presented by Larry K. Lowry, PhD. John Cocker, PhD and Heiko U. Käfferlein, PhD also contributed to the development of this module.
Module 3 - Practical Considerations of Biomonitoring will be presented by Gary Spies, MPH, CIH, Michael Bader, PD and Lee M. Blum, PhD.
Jean Grassman, MS, PhD, CPH also contributed to the development of the Certificate Program.
All presenters and contributors are members of the ACGIH® Biological Exposure Indices (BEI®) Committee.
This Certificate Program contains 6.0 contact hours and may be eligible for ABIH CM credit. See the ABIH website (www.abih.org) for CM credit criteria. This Certificate Program may also qualify for BCSP recertification points for Certified Safety Professionals. Participants seeking a Certificate from ACGIH® for continuing education purposes must attend the live modules or view the archive and submit the final tests and evaluation, as well as submit a complete case study. Certificates will be issued in a timely manner after receipt and completion of these items.
For more detailed information about the ACGIH® Certificate Program in Biomonitoring, contact Ryan Peltier at rpeltier@acgih.org or 513-742-2020.