Assessing developmental toxicant exposures via biomonitoring.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health Sciences
• Toxicology
• Biomonitoring

Background:

• Developmental effects in populations are often linked to exposure scenarios and individual susceptibility.
• Environmental public health research has primarily focused on chemical exposures, necessitating consideration of other environmental and susceptibility factors.
• Biomonitoring is a key method for assessing population exposure to environmental chemicals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine and disseminate data on environmental chemical concentrations in the U.S. general population.
• To examine the linkage between chemical exposures during critical developmental periods and adverse developmental effects.
• To provide biomonitoring information across various life stages for public health interpretation.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing biomonitoring to measure environmental chemicals, their metabolites, or adducts in biological matrices.
• Compiling and analyzing data on chemical concentrations in the U.S. population.
• Examining specific chemical examples to illustrate the link between exposure and developmental effects.

Main Results:

• Data on environmental chemical concentrations in the U.S. general population have been determined and made publicly available.
• Specific chemicals have been identified as having exposures linked to adverse developmental effects.
• Biomonitoring data are presented for the U.S. population overall and across different life stages.

Conclusions:

• Biomonitoring data are crucial for interpreting exposure scenarios and understanding developmental effects.
• Environmental chemical exposures during critical developmental periods are associated with adverse outcomes.
• Publicly available biomonitoring data support environmental public health research and risk assessment across the lifespan.