title: Human exposure assessment to environmental chemicals using biomonitoring.
abstract: In modern societies, humans may be exposed to a wide spectrum of environmental chemicals. Although the health significance of this exposure for many chemicals is unknown, studies to investigate the prevalence of exposure are warranted because of the chemicals' potential harmful health effects, as often indicated in animal studies. Three tools have been used to assess exposure: exposure history/questionnaire information, environmental monitoring, and biomonitoring (i.e. measuring concentrations of the chemicals, their metabolites, or their adducts in human specimens). We present an overview on the use of biomonitoring in exposure assessment using phthalates, bisphenol A and other environmental phenols, and perfluorinated chemicals as examples. We discuss some factors relevant for interpreting and understanding biomonitoring data, including selection of both biomarkers of exposure and human matrices, and toxicokinetic information. The use of biomonitoring in human risk assessment is not discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. acalafat@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Antonia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Calafat
authors.forename: Xiaoyun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Manori J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Zsuzsanna
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kuklenyik
authors.forename: Larry L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Needham
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010636:Phenols; D010795:Phthalic Acids