Construction

UK construction workforces are exposed to solvents in coatings and adhesives, isocyanates in spray-applied PU foams and coatings, metals in welding and demolition, and PAHs in bitumen and coal-tar handling. Biological monitoring verifies that mobile-site controls hold under realistic conditions.

Construction exposure profile

Construction biomonitoring differs from factory biomonitoring because the work environment is dynamic — tasks rotate by phase, controls move with the work front, and RPE compliance is harder to enforce. Biomonitoring captures the cumulative reality across these variables in a way that spot air sampling cannot.

Common substances and biomarkers

Solvent exposure on site (epoxy thinners, polyurethane carriers): urinary methylhippuric acids, mandelic acid. Spray-applied PU foam insulation: urinary MDA. Hot-bitumen and asphalt: urinary 1-hydroxypyrene as a marker of PAH burden. Welding stainless and galvanised steel: urinary Cr and Ni; manganese in some cases.

Programme design for site work

SEGs are defined by task and phase rather than job title. Sampling is typically conducted on representative working days during the relevant phase, with results triaged at the project H&S meeting. Trend monitoring across projects identifies systemic control issues at the principal contractor level.