Public Health and Environmental Laboratories

New Jersey Biomonitoring Program

In 2014, the State of New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) established the New Jersey Biomonitoring Program with support from a grant sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) State Biomonitoring Program. The NJDOH Public Health and Environmental Laboratories (PHEL) has expanded its capability and capacity to conduct world class biomonitoring for various environmental contaminants, including emerging contaminants per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, that are commonly found in New Jersey. Three biomonitoring projects were conducted during the 5 year grant period, including “Environmental Contaminant Levels in Blood and Urine Specimens from NJ Clinical Laboratories and Blood Banks,” “Assessing PFNA Body Burdens Following Drinking Water Intervention,” and “Assessing and Addressing Environmental Exposure of Expectant Women to Lead and Mercury.” These projects helped the State to investigate exposure trends in NJ adults, identify at-risk subpopulations, and address local health issues. NJDOH-PHEL was awarded the subsequent cycle of CDC’s state biomonitoring grant spanning 2019-2024. This new cooperative agreement is being used to conduct a NJ population-based health and nutrition examination survey (NJHANES), to expand the prenatal screening program, and to investigate autism spectrum disorders from dried blood spots in newborns that will help the State address health disparities among NJ population (NJ biomonitoring Projects).  

Toxic Substances Control Act

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) publishes a list of each chemical substance that is manufactured or processed, including imports, in the United States. That list contains more than 85,000 chemicals and continues to grow. There are many sources and routes of chemical exposure, including air, food, water, bathing, furniture, soil, cleaning products, cosmetics and job-related exposure. Some chemicals pass through the body quickly with minimal effect while others persist for a long time. Biomonitoring is the screening of blood, urine, saliva, hair, and other specimens (Sample Analysis and Methods) to help assess the exposure to or accumulation of environmental chemicals in humans. Biomonitoring is a complement to environmental testing for chemicals and is a tool that helps public health officials in determining the root cause of exposure and how to address it.  

Though the CDC provides invaluable biomonitoring data through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) reports, it unfortunately cannot provide state-specific biomonitoring data. NJDOH and CDC view the cooperative agreement as not only a 5-year partnership to generate NJ-specific data, but as the foundation of a permanent, self-sustaining program.

The New Jersey Biomonitoring Commission (NJBMC) was also established in 2014. NJBMC includes analytical, epidemiological, environmental, toxicological, and exposure experts, along with community activists, and provide scientific guidance and oversight for the biomonitoring projects.  The NJ Biomonitoring Program (NJBMP) also aims to increase outreach and public awareness of the value and importance of biomonitoring to the citizens of the State of New Jersey.

Upcoming Meetings  (coming soon)