Non-Occupational Exposure to Metal Elements in Finland – Urinary and Blood Biomonitoring Study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the exposure to metal elements of the non-occupationally exposed, non-smoking, working-age population in Finland, and to provide reference values for these metals in the urine and blood. Urine samples were analysed for 30 metals and blood samples for eight metals. The samplings took place in 2020. In the urine samples, most of the studied metal elements were quantifiable (n=147); only the indium and iridium results were below the limit of quantification. In the blood samples, all the metals were quantifiable (n=143). The results regarding four metals in the urine and five metals in the blood were statistically different among the females to those among the males. In most cases, exposure was higher among the females than the males. An age-dependent trend was only observed in the results regarding lead in blood and copper in urine. In comparison to data from other countries, the blood lead levels were lower in Finland, but urinary arsenic and selenium levels were generally higher. The results of this study will be used to set reference values for use in occupational health. We emphasize that it is important to use an appropriate reference population to identify occupational exposure to metals when setting reference values. Especially when considering a reduction in occupational exposure limit values and the corresponding health-based biological limit values for metals, it is essential to understand that the background population exposure varies to correctly interpret the data from occupationally exposed populations.

Keywords: Environmental exposure, biological sample, chemical analysis, trace elements, unexposed, reference values