Biomonitoring Efforts

The most important question for biomonitoring efforts to address is whether exposure to a chemical causes health effects. Few data are available on most of the chemicals measured in population studies, such as NHANES, to address that question (Metcalf and Orloff 2004). For example, the Government Accountability Office (GAO 2005) reports that EPA has limited data on the health and environmental risks posed by chemicals now used in commerce. A survey of risk-assessment practitioners on the extent to which biomarkers are used in risk assessment concluded that the absence of chemical-specific data (for example, toxicologic and epidemiologic data) was the primary limitation in using exposure biomarkers in risk assessment (Maier et al. 2004). 

Current biomonitoring efforts can be categorized as survey projects and research projects. The objective of survey projects typically is to advance public health by producing information about the prevalence of exposure to environmental toxicants based on periodic monitoring (European... 

A majority of U.S. biomonitoring efforts measure such analytes as heavy metals, pesticides, cotinine, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, phthalates, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Future population-based studies (such as NHANES) will include such chemicals as perfluorinated compounds, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and perchlorate, on which little exposure information is available. 

TABLE 2-1 Examples of Current U.S. and International Biomonitoring Efforts... 

Of the European studies reviewed, many measured heavy metals, cotinine, PCBs, pesticides, PAHs, dioxins, phthalates, and VOCs. Germany has taken a substantial lead in this respect through its comprehensive population-based surveys (German Environment Surveys) and concerted efforts to develop health-protective reference values for the general population. In addition European countries have been actively involved in occupational biomonitoring efforts. In fact, some countries have biomonitoring surveillance programs that have been required by law. 

Additional examples of European biomonitoring efforts are included in Table 2-1. 

An assessment of biomonitoring efforts reveals that the biomonitoring of chemicals in children seems to have a high priority in both the United States and the EU, as evidenced by the sheer number of programs and the aggressive agenda for future monitoring of this population. 

An assessment of current U.S. and European biomonitoring efforts has yielded the following conclusions ... 

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