[Reference values: from guide values to the exposome]

Abstract

The correspondence between biomarkers and the complex interaction of toxics with the human organism has been fully described years ago by the American National Research Council which developed a precious diagram.This model is still valid in describing the new methodologic agnostic or "omic" approaches to the science of exposure. Reference values and exposome share indeed the search for internal dose biomarkers; adduttomics may be seen as an evolution of the target dose markers while epigenetics itself is a new way of exploring the world of early effect biomarkers.