Good afternoon:

 

NCSL and the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) are conducting a survey on biomonitoring, and we would welcome your participation!

 

We ask that you fill out the attached survey after reading the information below and return your completed form to Claire Lewis (claire.lewis@ncsl.org; 303-856-1433; fax 303-856-2533) by no later than Friday, May 2, 2014. 

Biomonitoring

• Involves measuring environmental chemicals in human tissues and fluids, such as blood and urine. People are exposed to chemicals through the air, water, food, soil, dust, and consumer products
• Finds many chemicals in a very small amount—often less than a teaspoon—of blood or urine
• Assess the nutrition status of the U.S. population.

Applications of Biomonitoring in Public Health

 

·        Assists targeted public health investigations of potential community exposures - conducted in response to health concerns or the discovery of environmental contamination.

·        Serves as a public health surveillance tool to detect and measure spatial and temporal differences in population exposures to provide baseline information unique for the state or local jurisdiction.

·        Provides a way to evaluate the efficacy of public health policies aimed at reducing exposures to environmental chemicals.

·        Contributes to disease diagnosis or rapid response efforts, by supporting diagnosis of poisoning and informing treatment plans.

·        Can inform individual and consumer choice.

 

Scientists use biomonitoring to Determine which chemicals are getting into people's bodies and how much of those chemicals are in blood, urine, breast milk, and saliva Monitor the number of people who have levels of a chemical above a known toxicity level (e.g., blood lead levels) Track exposure trends and impacts of public health programs Activities of National Biomonitoring Program Measures more than 300 environmental chemicals and nutritional indicators in people Develops advanced laboratory methods in peer-reviewed journals so that other laboratories can use them Shares knowledge and trains state public health laboratories in biomonitoring methods Helps assure the quality of laboratory test data so patients and healthcare providers (as well as researchers and public health officials) can be confident that laboratory test results they receive are accurate Funds state-based biomonitoring programs in California, New York, and Washington Collaborates with partners on 60–70 studies each year examining the effects of environmental exposure Responds to requests for aid in epidemiological investigations where chemical exposure is suspected Periodically assesses the exposure of the U.S. population to environmental chemicals

Thank you for your participation.

 

Best,

 

Claire Lewis

 

 

Claire Lewis

Research Analyst

National Conference of State Legislatures

7700 E. First Place, Denver, CO 80230

303-856-1433 (o) | 303-856-2533 (f)

www.ncsl.org

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