生物监测用来评价职业或环境毒物接触剂量以及早期检出可逆性生物效应。对接触致癌物和诱变物来说,生物监测的目的是防止不可逆的毒性作用。因为这些作用(尽管还未被证实)被认为是化学致癌的早期阶段。生物监测不能代替环境监测,但应起到补充作用。这是因为从接触致癌物到出现效应之间的潜伏期长达几十年的缘故。虽然近年来有关生物监测方法已有很大进展,但大多数方法还处于研究阶 Biological monitoring is used to assess occupational or environmental exposure doses and early detection of reversible biological effects. For exposure to carcinogens and mutagens, the goal of biological monitoring is to prevent irreversible toxic effects. Because these effects, albeit not yet confirmed, are considered early stages of chemical carcinogenesis. Biological monitoring can not replace environmental monitoring, but should supplement it. This is because the incubation period from exposure to carcinogens to the appearance of effects can last for decades. Although great progress has been made in recent years on biological monitoring methods, most methods are still at the research stage