Human biomonitoring in Israel: past, present, future

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Toxicology
• Public Health

Background:

• Human biomonitoring (HBM) in Israel began in the 1970s-80s, initially focusing on polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine insecticides.
• Regional studies in the late 1990s assessed blood lead levels in children, correlating with reduced lead emissions from phasing out leaded gasoline.
• Recent pilot studies revealed widespread exposure to phthalates, organophosphate pesticides, and bendiocarb in pregnant women, with significantly higher metabolite concentrations compared to US populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To track historical and current chemical exposures in the Israeli population.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of environmental policies, such as the phase-out of leaded gasoline.
• To establish national biomonitoring programs for comprehensive exposure assessment.

Main Methods:

• Historical HBM studies measured PCBs, organochlorine insecticides, and lead.
• Regional studies analyzed blood lead levels in children across Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority.
• Recent and ongoing studies utilize biomonitoring to assess exposure to phthalates, organophosphates, bisphenol A, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, phytoestrogens, and cotinine in general and specific populations.

Main Results:

• Early studies established baseline exposures to legacy pollutants.
• Lead levels in children decreased, demonstrating the impact of environmental policy changes.
• Pregnant women in Jerusalem showed significantly higher levels of phthalate and organophosphate metabolites than US counterparts.
• The first National Biomonitoring Study is underway to assess a wide range of chemical exposures in the adult population.

Conclusions:

• Human biomonitoring in Israel has expanded from occupational and regional studies to national population-based assessments.
• Findings indicate significant exposure to modern chemicals, particularly in vulnerable groups like pregnant women.
• Future HBM efforts should focus on representative population sampling, international collaboration, enhanced analytical capabilities, and policy integration.