Biomonitoring News and Research

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There has been a surge in the presence of pollutants and contaminants in the environment. Thus, efforts are being made to develop techniques that can measure the presence of these molecules within the environment and the human body.

Study finds high microplastic levels in Mediterranean fish despite low chemical contaminants

Researchers in a recent study published in the journal Foods discovered high levels of microplastics in popular Mediterranean fish species, despite low levels of cadmium and antibiotics, highlighting ongoing environmental concerns.

19 Apr 2024

Prenatal air pollution exposure increases the risk of severe respiratory distress in newborns

Prenatal exposure to air pollution increases the risk of severe respiratory distress in newborn babies, according to new research conducted at the Penn State College of Medicine in collaboration with the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) Study led by Health Canada.

29 Jan 2024

Pregnant women exposed to common flame retardants may face preterm birth risk

In the largest study of its kind, researchers at UC Davis Health found that exposure to organophosphate ester flame retardants during pregnancy was associated with preterm birth, especially among females.

24 Jan 2024

“Forever chemicals” could contribute to cancer metastasis in living organisms

In a new study by researchers at the Yale School of Public Health, two "forever chemicals" spurred cancer cells in the lab to migrate to new positions, an indication that the chemicals could contribute to cancer metastasis in living organisms.

18 Dec 2023

Exposure to phthalates linked to lower probability of getting pregnant

Exposure to phthalates, a group of plasticizing and solvent chemicals found in many household products, was linked to a lower probability of getting pregnant, but not to pregnancy loss, according to research by a University of Massachusetts Amherst environmental and reproductive epidemiologist.

15 Dec 2023

‘Forever chemicals’ found in freshwater fish, yet most states don’t warn residents

Bill Eisenman has always fished. "Growing up, we ate whatever we caught — catfish, carp, freshwater drum," he said. "That was the only real source of fish in our diet as a family, and we ate a lot of it."

1 Dec 2023

Are airborne microplastics damaging your lungs? New study probes potential risks

Researchers review the presence and impact of airborne microplastics (AMPs) on human respiratory health in a new study published in the Science of the Total Environment. The study underscores the urgent need for more data on the toxicity of AMPs, which are prevalent in indoor environments and could pose serious health risks, especially to vulnerable populations like children and older adults.

7 Sep 2023

‘Like a Russian roulette’: US military firefighters grapple with unknowns of PFAS exposure

A U.S. military firefighter for 32 years, Kurt Rhodes trained and performed his duties with aqueous film forming foam, or AFFF — a highly effective fire suppressant that he never knew contained PFAS chemicals, now known to be harmful to human health.

7 Sep 2023

IKIDS study receives new funding to explore how environmental exposures influence child health

Seven years after an initial $17.9 million award from the National Institutes of Health, the Illinois Kids Development Study at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will receive approximately $13.7 million – awarded in two phases – to continue its work for another seven years.

5 Sep 2023

Asian Americans have the highest PFAS exposure, study finds

Asian Americans have significantly higher exposure than other ethnic or racial groups to PFAS, a family of thousands of synthetic chemicals also known as "toxic forever" chemicals, Mount Sinai-led researchers report.

24 Aug 2023

Chronic exposure to lead, cadmium and arsenic associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease

Chronic exposure to low levels of lead, cadmium and arsenic through commonly used household items, air, water, soil and food is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

12 Jun 2023

New study reveals a revolutionary approach to studying airborne genetic material

Recently published in PeerJ Life and Environment, researchers successfully use aircraft surveys with novel instrumentation to capture airborne nucleic acids and probe biodiversity in the atmosphere, uncovering surprising findings.

15 May 2023

Is exposure to metal associated with the risk of Parkinson's disease?

Researchers reviewed the literature on metal exposure and Parkinson's disease risk.

7 Apr 2023

Raincoats, undies, school uniforms: Are your clothes dripping in ‘forever chemicals’?

There could be more than just fashion risks involved when buying a pair of leggings or a raincoat.

4 Apr 2023

Fluoride exposure may increase the risk of hypothyroidism in pregnant women

New research out of York University found that fluoride exposure via drinking water may increase the risk of hypothyroidism in pregnant women.

9 Feb 2023

Advantages and challenges of using interstitial fluid for disease diagnosis, health monitoring

The next frontier of continuous health monitoring could be skin deep.

20 Jan 2023

Simple Corsi-Rosenthal boxes can help reduce exposure to indoor air pollutants

A team of researchers from Brown University's School of Public Health, Brown's School of Engineering and Silent Spring Institute found that simple air filtration devices called Corsi-Rosenthal boxes are effective at reducing indoor air pollutants.

23 Dec 2022

Mercury exposure during pregnancy could boost growth rates of fetus and infant

In a new study, researchers used a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model to calculate the predicted concentration of MeHg in a given organ with time.

10 Nov 2022

Sophisticated tool helps measure exposure levels to PFAS

A novel metric that estimates our "burden," or cumulative exposure, to a family of thousands of synthetic chemicals that we encounter in everyday life with potentially adverse health impacts, has been created by a team of researchers at Mount Sinai.

2 Nov 2022

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in the urine of Danish infants

Researchers report the finding of several endocrine-disruptor chemicals in the urine of Danish infants.

21 Sep 2022