At a glance
- Learn how New Jersey is increasing its capacity and capability to assess exposure to environmental chemicals in residents.
Funding overview
2019-2024
The State of New Jersey Biomonitoring Program is expanding its biomonitoring capability and capacity to conduct both statewide surveillance and targeted investigations. New Jersey Biomonitoring conducts statewide surveillance for exposures to various chemicals, including heavy metals, cotinine, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), flame retardants, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), to establish exposure trends and identify subpopulations with elevated exposure levels in New Jersey.
New Jersey Biomonitoring is conducting two targeted investigations to assess exposures to environmental toxins in vulnerable subpopulations. The first project is a prenatal screening and intervention program for expectant mothers and newborns who are at a high-risk for lead and mercury exposure. The second project entails measuring toxic metals and pesticides in newborn samples in collaboration with New Jersey Newborn Screening Program.
2014-2019
Both the New Jersey Department of Health and the Public Health and Environmental Laboratories created the New Jersey Biomonitoring Program. The purpose of the program is to increase the capacity and capability to assess exposure to environmental chemicals in New Jersey's residents.
During the 2014-2019 cooperative agreement cycle, the program conducted studies in both targeted and larger statewide populations:
- The Environmental Contaminant Levels in Blood and Urine Specimens from New Jersey Clinical Laboratories and Blood Banks, which collected samples representative of the state population through strategic partnerships to assess exposure to per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBS), and metals
- Assessing Perfluorononanoic Acid (PFNA) Body Burdens Following Drinking Water Intervention, which evaluated the effectiveness of interventions to reduce exposure to PFNA in drinking water by monitoring participants' exposure over a three-year period
- Assessing Environmental Exposure of Expecting Women in New Jersey to Toxic Metals, PCBs, and PFAS, which assessed pregnant women's exposure to environmental contaminants and offered intervention assistance