Reports

Human Biomonitoring for Environmental Chemicals (2006)

Biomonitoring--a method of measuring amounts of toxic chemicals in human tissues--is a valuable tool for studying potentially harmful environmental chemicals. Biomonitoring data have been used to confirm exposures to chemicals and validate public-health policies. For example, population biomonitoring data showing high blood lead concentrations resulted in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys (EPAs) regulatory reduction of lead in gasoline; biomonitoring data then confirmed a resultant drop in blood lead concentrations. Despite recent advances, the science needed to understand the implications of biomonitoring data for human health is still in its nascent stages. Use of the data also raises communication and ethical challenges. In response to a Congressional request, EPA asked the National Research Council to address those challenges in an independent study. This report provides a framework for improving use of biomonitoring data including developing and using biomarkers (measures of exposure), research to improve the interpretation of data, ways to communicate findings to the public, and a review of ethical issues.
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