National Biomonitoring Program

Helping People Limit Exposure to Harmful Chemicals

The National Biomonitoring Program provides laboratory science that improves the detection, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease from exposure to environmental chemicals.

What is biomonitoring? It combines biology and monitoring. For instance, scientists at CDC’s Division of Laboratory Sciences (DLS) monitor markers of chemicals in the environment in biological samples. They develop special laboratory methods and use them to test blood and urine from participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. This ongoing survey tracks the physical and nutritional health of adults and children in the United States.

These data are used in the National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals and Updated Tables. The report provides the most thorough and up-to-date information on Americans’ exposure to a number of environmental chemicals over time. State and local public health scientists and researchers rely on the report to help assess and reduce exposure to possibly harmful environmental chemicals. In addition, every year DLS biomonitoring activities support more than 75 studies on people whose health is at greater risk from exposure to harmful chemicals. Results of these studies can influence regulations and other actions to reduce exposures.

Benefits of Biomonitoring

In short, biomonitoring is a tool to improve health and well-being. Scientists improve Americans’ health by testing for exposure to harmful chemicals, helping other labs with the quality of their tests, and responding to public health emergencies. DLS biomonitoring measurements, for instance, showed that Americans had widespread exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical often used in personal and consumer products. A daily diet of canned soup was shown to increase BPA exposure by more than 10 times the amount someone would get by eating soup made of fresh ingredients. Shortly after this finding was reported, a major canned-soup manufacturer volunteered to remove BPA from its packaging.

Supporting State Labs across the US

DLS helps state laboratories detect such harmful chemicals by providing money for high-quality biomonitoring. DLS also offers training and performance evaluation to improve the state laboratories’ techniques.

In addition, every year DLS biomonitoring activities support more than 75 studies on people whose health is at greater risk from exposure to harmful chemicals. Results of these studies can influence regulations and other actions to reduce exposures.