Biomonitoring

Biomonitoring is the assessment of exposure to toxic substances in people by the laboratory measurement of these substances (or their metabolites) in human specimens, such as blood, urine, or saliva. It can be used to establish the body burden or internal dose of specific environmental contaminants through all routes of exposure. Population-based biomonitoring, in combination with environmental monitoring (e.g., of air, dust, water, food, and soil), can provide detailed information about differences in exposures across geography, race/ethnicity, and socio-economic status. Biological monitoring can also illuminate the relationships between genetic predispositions or sensitivities and disease outcomes.

EHIB uses biomonitoring in studies linking environmental exposures and pollution-related diseases, for environmental health tracking and to explore body burdens in populations that may be at increased risk from exposure. Along with the Environmental Health Laboratory Branch, EHIB represents the Department of Public Health in the California Environmental Contaminant Biomonitoring Program (CECBP), which was established by legislation in 2006 (SB 1379, Perata). The CECBP is a collaborative effort of the California Department of Public Health and two departments in the California Environmental Protection Agency: the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). OEHHA is responsible for maintaining the website of the CECBP: more information can be found at http://www.oehha.ca.gov/multimedia/biomon/index.html.

The California Environmental Health Tracking Program of EHIB has undertaken biomonitoring activities and is interested in examining exposure to contaminants in communities which have the potential to be highly exposed.

EHIB staff contacts for biomonitoring include Dr. Rupali Das, Diana Lee, Robbie Welling, Phillip Gonzaga, and Dr. Paul English. Please click on their links below to contact them.