Biological Monitoring: A Practical Self Study Guide

2.0 IH CM Points/ 1.2 CEUs/ 1.2 COCs

Course Level: Introductory

Prerequisites: none

Who Will Benefit: This self-study course will benefit practicing industrial hygienists and/or other OEHS professionals, employed by industry, government, academia, as well as those who serve as consultants.

Course Specifics: This course is based on the Biological Monitoring Guide, A Practical Field Manual.
Air monitoring only assesses exposure to chemicals absorbed via inhalation. Biological monitoring is an additional tool to be used by industrial hygienists to aid in the assessment of worker exposures, allowing an assessment of the amount of a chemical absorbed into the worker from all routes including dermal, inhalation, and ingestion.

There are learning modules for each chapter of the guide. Students are expected to complete each module and submit it to AIHA. At the end of the course, a final exam and evaluation must be completed. Upon successful conclusion of the course, AIHA will issue continuing education credits for the course.

Learning Outcomes: Students will be provided with tools to better able them to:

• Understand the benefits and pitfalls of the use of biological monitoring to assess exposure, particularly through the skin.
• Understand the issues of sample collection, the time of sample collection, specimen stability, laboratory methods, quality assurance and data interpretation.
• Apply biological monitoring to their workplace and be able to design a cost-effective biological monitoring program for their company or organization.
• Locate resources on biological monitoring including laboratory methods and guidelines for interpretation.

Time to Complete: Students will have six months to complete the course.

Course Outline:

• Module 1 - Introductory material  - Chapters 1-5
• Module 2 - Sampling and analysis - Chapter 6
• Module 3 - Using results - Chapter 7
• Module 4 – Appendix I (Frequently asked questions) and Appendix V (Consent forms)
• Module 5 – Appendix II (Case Studies)
• Module 6 – Appendix VII, Slide Show 

Course Components: CD-ROM containing PDFs of student lessons, final exam, evaluation, and the student workbook: Biological Monitoring Guide, A Practical Field Manual, on CD.

Course Authors:

• Larry K. Lowry, PhD, DABCC
  Director, Graduate Environmental Health Programs and Professor, Occupational Health Sciences
• Gary J. Spies, CIH
  Director, EHS, Pfizer
• Lee Blum, PhD
  Assistant Laboratory Director, National Medical Services
• Cherie F. Estill, PE
  Industrial Hygiene Supervisor, NIOSH