Table 1.

List of criteria for the selection of chemicals for which human biomonitoring (HBM) indicators can be derived.

Relevance
EU policy relevance	• Public health issue, burden of disease
	• Clear policy question
	• Preparing policy and signalling function (chemicals of concern)
	• Evaluation of policies (implementation)
	• Help investigate potential links between environment and health
	• Clear possibilities for prevention and risk management options
	• Disaggregation possible into population subgroups or areas of particular interest, such as based on regional areas, socio-economic inequity, or vulnerable groups
Societal relevance	• Public demand for more information on a topic
Health relevance	• Evidence of internal exposure
	• An association with adverse health outcomes has been demonstrated (not mandatory)
	• Human biomonitoring health-based guidance values (HBM HBGVs) preferably available (health risk)
Data Quality
Data availability	• HBM data available from European countries
	• Representative HBM data of the target (subpopulation, area, time window) addressed in the policy question
	• At least 120 persons per study population with valid HBM data
	• Time or spatial trends
Comparability	• Availability of standardized HBM analytical method
	• Transparent and scientifically sound
	• Providing benchmark for international comparison
Indicator type	• No overlap/strong correlation with other indicators (e.g., from same source)
	• Interpretability: simple interpretation in relation to policy question, intuitively obvious what the indicator stands for
	• Raise awareness across different stakeholder groups