Interpretation of biomonitoring data in clinical medicine and the exposure sciences.
Biomonitoring has become a fundamental tool in both exposure science and clinical medicine. Despite significant analytical advances, the clinical use of environmental biomarkers remains in its infancy. Clinical use of environmental biomarkers poses some complex scientific and ethical challenges. The purpose of this paper is compare how the clinical and exposure sciences differ with respect to their interpretation and use of biological data. Additionally, the clinical use of environmental biomonitoring data is discussed. A case study is used to illustrate the complexities of conducting biomonitoring research on highly vulnerable populations in a clinical setting.
University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Department of Pediatrics, Memphis, TN 38105, USA. bwilli36@utmem.edu
Bryan L
BL
Williams
Dana B
DB
Barr
J Michael
JM
Wright
Brian
B
Buckley
Melina S
MS
Magsumbol
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D015510:Clinical Medicine / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans
D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants