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Despite the large amounts of formaldehyde used in the industry, monitoring the health effects of occupational exposure remains an aspect of further improvement in occupational risk prevention programs. Objective: To identify the different biomarkers of effect that have been proposed to be used as indirect indicators of formaldehyde exposure and that are reported in the scientific literature. Methodology: A bibliographic review of literature from 1990 to the first quarter of 2018 was made using the descriptors: "Formaldehyde", "Biomarker", "Professional exposure". Databases were consulted and the initial search was supplemented by consulting the bibliography cited by the authors of the selected articles. Abstracts of articles were reviewed and those that, after preliminary analysis, were determined to contain information relevant to the research were selected. Results: The study found 57 articles relevant to the review which contained information on biomarkers of effect in populations of workers exposed to formaldehyde, some animal studies, and in vitro cells. Used biomarkers were summarized, studies were listed, and the findings of each of them were briefly described. Conclusions: The lack of knowledge and understanding of the toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic mechanisms of formaldehyde in humans limits the application of a biomarker of effect that measures in a practical and simple way exposure to exogenous formaldehyde. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aflatoxins (AF) are secondary toxic metabolites formed mainly by the molds Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus; they are potent mutagens and carcinogens of foods, and human exposure to them is continuous. AF bind to DNA, RNA and proteins forming AFB1-DNA adducts that accumulate for years and damage from viruses to humans. To identify and quantify the chemical reactions and molecular biology of these adducts is of primary importance because they are long-term biomarkers validated as a source of mutagenicity and risk of cancer in animals and humans. The cytochrome P450 activates AF as an unstable molecule called 8,9 AFB1 epoxide, that binds mainly to the N7 of the guanine nucleotide forming adducts that are the active carcinogens themselves and, as biomarkers, an objective measure of human exposure to environmental carcinogens. Adducts represent an integration of exposure, absorption, distribution, metabolism, DNA repair, and cell turnover. The different issues presented here are the formation of AFB1-DNA adducts, in vitro and in vivo studies, dietary AFB1 exposure, effects, development of human cancer and mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene, the effect of diet, routes of exposure, vitamins, kinds of AFB1-DNA adducts, methodology used for their study and their control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]