The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) believes the best way to address these important questions regarding human exposure is through biomonitoring: a rigorous scientific process that measures levels of environmental chemicals in human tissues and fluids. While knowing what chemicals are present in the environment is important, it is even more important to determine through biomonitoring whether they are actually present in the human body as a result of environmental exposure. Such data are essential to assessing relationships between chemical exposure and human health.
CDC’s National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals provides estimates of chemical exposures for the civilian, non-institutionalized U.S. population. Its current design does not allow calculation of exposure estimates on a state-by-state or city-by-city basis. For example, CDC cannot extract a subset of data and examine levels of blood lead that represent a state population. In order to produce such data, states need the capability and capacity to conduct biomonitoring assessments statewide or in communities or groups where chemical exposure is a concern.
APHL has developed a five year plan to establish a National Biomonitoring Network (NBN) of public health laboratories. The goals will be (1) to investigate potential human exposures and associated environmental diseases and (2) to develop and enhance environmental health policies to minimize health risks, based on human exposure and toxicology information. This is an important first step as laboratories are an essential component of an effective national biomonitoring system. APHL recognizes that biomonitoring goes beyond the laboratory and that an effective national biomonitoring system requires the skills, expertise, and supporting infrastructure of a variety of additional entities and individuals.
Read the draft National Biomonitoring Five-Year Plan.