Guidance for the health surveillance and biomonitoring of workers exposed to lead and its compounds

Guidance for the health surveillance and biomonitoring of workers exposed to lead and its compounds

ID 25954 | 09.04.2026 / Attached

The biological and occupational exposure limit values for lead (Pb) and its inorganic compounds have been recently revised under Directive (EU) 2024/869 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 March 2024 amending Directive 2004/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Directive 98/24/EC as regards the limit values for lead and its inorganic compounds and for diisocyanates. The new directive establishes lower values to protect workers’ health.

Directive EU 2024/869, Recital 15, states: "In order to assist Member States, the Commission should draw up Union guidelines on health surveillance, including biological monitoring. Those Union guidelines should focus, inter alia, on the implementation of the provisions of Directive 2004/37/EC regarding blood lead level, taking into account the slow removal of lead from the body, and on the implementation of provisions of that Directive regarding the blood lead level for female workers of childbearing age in order to protect their foetuses and offspring".

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) in collaboration with relevant stakeholders has published Biological monitoring at work: Guidance for OSH experts and workplaces (EU-OSHA, 2025). This annex to the guidance provides relevant information for occupational health and hygiene professionals, doctors, employers, workers and workers representatives in the context of health surveillance and biomonitoring of lead and its inorganic compounds.

This annex has also been developed in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

The bibliography consulted and references cited are provided at the end of the document.

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Table of Contents

1 Purpose and scope 

2 Regulation of lead in the EU - classification and occupational limit values 

3 Work activities that may represent a risk of exposure 

4 Adverse health effects associated with exposure to lead and its inorganic compounds
4.1 Exposure routes 
4.2 Toxicokinetics and metabolism 
4.3 Health effects 
4.4 Vulnerable groups 

5 Health surveillance: biological monitoring and medical surveillance 
5.1 Frequency of health surveillance: biological monitoring and medical surveillance 
5.2 Records of medical history and symptoms 
5.3 Work history and past/cumulative exposure 
5.4 Physical examinations 
5.5 Biological monitoring 
5.5.1 Procedure and equipment for blood sampling for lead analysis 
5.5.2 Sample conservation, transport and storage 
5.5.3 Information to be recorded 
5.5.4 Quality of data 
5.5.5 Interpretation of results 
5.5.6 Ethical considerations 

6 Analytical methods for measuring lead in blood 

7 Employers’ obligations 
7.1 Prevention and reduction of exposure 
7.2 Information and training 
7.3 Female workers of childbearing age 
7.4 Alternative job and declining trend on exposure 
7.5 Occupational disease (OD) notification 

8 Information for workers 
8.1 Health effects of lead 
8.2 Family planning, pregnancy and breastfeeding 
8.3 Medical conditions 
8.4 Personal hygiene 
8.5 Health surveillance 

Bibliography 

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Fonte: EU-OSHA

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