各國職業衛生生物偵測趨勢之文獻回顧

Literature Review on Trends in Biological Monitoring of Occupational Hygiene in Various Countries

生物偵測在多種暴露評估工具中具有優勢，國際間主要的職業衛生團體及單位皆認為生物偵測是一重要的暴露評估工具，然國內現有之生物偵測方法相對有限。為促進國內職業衛生發展，保障職場工作者的健康，本研究收集美國、歐盟、德國、英國、日本及臺灣等國家之生物偵測趨勢及技術資料，獲得之結論包括：生物偵測對於評估勞工接觸有害物的暴露情況及了解早期健康影響而言，可發揮重要的作用。各國資料中，對於勞工作業場所空氣中有害物的暴露濃度皆有較明確的規範，但對於生物偵測相關的體內暴露劑量，其要求與規定則相對較少。多數國家對於鉛作業工作者之血中鉛濃度有嚴格規範，但對於有機溶劑作業之規範則相對較少。國內職業安全衛生法規中，如：「有機溶劑中毒預防規則」和「特定化學物質危害預防條例」等，係參考日本之相關法令而訂定，而未來可參考日本法規之最新要求而進行調整，以保障勞工之健康。根據本研究的成果，針對國內生物偵測制度提出以下建議，包括：將生物偵測納入職業安全衛生相關之指引或法規之中、持續引進或發展生物偵測方法、將合適的生物指標納入特殊健康檢查的項目之中及建立本土化生物指標之背景資料等。

Among various tools for exposure assessments, biological monitoring has advantages among other methods. While major international occupational health organizations recognize biological monitoring as a crucial tool for exposure assessment, Taiwan's existing biological monitoring methods are relatively limited. To promote occupational health development and ensure the health of workplace workers, this study aims to gather biological monitoring trends and technical data from countries such as the United States, European Union, Germany, United Kingdom, Japan, and Taiwan.
In the data from various countries, there are clear regulations for the exposure concentrations of harmful substances in the air of workplaces. Still, there are relatively fewer requirements and regulations regarding the internal exposure doses related to biological monitoring. Most countries have strict regulations on blood lead concentrations for lead workers, while the guidelines and/or standards for organic solvents are not commonly available. Both Taiwan and Japan have regulations on how to prevent the toxic effects from the exposures of organic solvents as well specific chemical hazards. It is recommended that Taiwan might adjust these regulations based on the latest requirements in Japanese regulations to ensure worker health.
Based on the findings of this research, the following recommendations are proposed: incorporate biological monitoring into relevant occupational safety and health guidelines or regulations, continuously introduce or develop biological monitoring methods, include appropriate biological monitoring indicators in particular physical check-ups, and establish background information for localized biological monitoring indicators.