You are here:
Biomonitoring: Uses and Considerations for Assessing Non-Occupational Human Exposure to Pesticides
Citation:
SOBUS, J., M. K. MORGAN, J. D. PLEIL, AND D. B. BARR. Biomonitoring: Uses and Considerations for Assessing Non-Occupational Human Exposure to Pesticides. Edition 3, Chapter 45, R. Krieger (ed.), Hayes' Handbook of Pesticide Toxicology. Elsevier Ltd, Oxford, Uk, , 1021-1036, (2010).
Impact/Purpose:
The National Exposure Research Laboratory′s (NERL) Human Exposure and Atmospheric Sciences Division (HEASD) conducts research in support of EPA′s mission to protect human health and the environment. HEASD′s research program supports Goal 1 (Clean Air) and Goal 4 (Healthy People) of EPA′s strategic plan. More specifically, our division conducts research to characterize the movement of pollutants from the source to contact with humans. Our multidisciplinary research program produces Methods, Measurements, and Models to identify relationships between and characterize processes that link source emissions, environmental concentrations, human exposures, and target-tissue dose. The impact of these tools is improved regulatory programs and policies for EPA.
Description:
Biomonitoring is an important tool that can be used to evaluate human exposure to pesticides by measuring the levels of pesticides, pesticide metabolites, or altered biological structures or functions in biological specimens or tissues (Barr et al., 2005b; Needham et al., 2005, 2007 ). These measurements in biological media, referred to as biomarkers, reflect human exposure to pesticides through all relevant routes, and can therefore be used to monitor aggregate and cumulative exposures. Aggregate pesticide exposure is defined as exposure to a single pesticide from all sources, across all routes and pathways (USEPA, 2001 a). Cumulative pesticide exposure is defined as exposure to multiple pesticides that can cause the same toxic effect via a common biochemical mechanism (USEPA, 2001a). The complexity of aggregate and cumulative pesticide exposures often obscures the linkages between exposure measurements and potential human health effects. Therefore, biomonitoring offers a means to clarify these critical relationships. However, careful interpretation of biomonitoring data is necessary to accurately assess human exposure to pesticides and the associated human health risks. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of the state of the science for pesticide biomonitoring research. We first present the fundamental concepts and primary uses of' biomonitoring, and then highlight the major criteria required for the selection and use of biomarkers in population-based exposure studies. Next we focus on factors that affect the use and interpretation of biomarkers of exposure for current-use pesticides. We conclude by identifying critical data gaps and research needs in the field of biomonitoring; the consideration of these factors in future studies will better inform assessments of exposure, dose, and risk.