Biomonitoring

The rapidly growing field of biomonitoring is providing important information about chemical levels in people.

Health Research for Action is developing and usability testing information on the state's Biomonitoring California program for the general public and research study participants.

Developing best practices in results reporting

HRA is working with risk communication experts and biomonoitoring programs to apply best practices in health literacy to results reporting.

Reporting results to study participants is challenging—safety levels and health risks have been established for very few chemicals. However, most people want to know their results. When people are better informed, they are more likely to avoid products that contain potentially harmful chemicals and to support policies to protect the public.

HRA conducted focus groups with parents of young girls in a study by the Breast Cancer and Environment Research Center. The study examines whether chemicals and other environmental factors are associated with earlier onset of puberty, a risk factor for breast cancer. The purpose of the focus groups was to learn what parents want to know about their daughters' biomonitoring results and how they want to receive them.

In another project with researchers from UC Berkeley, UCSF, and the California Department of Public Health, HRA is helping to design and test a template for providing results to women in a maternal and infant environmental exposure study.

We will also publish a Perspectives issue on the value of biomonitoring and importance of communicating clearly about studies and results.