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.

Rice, seafood and water may help explain striking differences in metal exposure across US communities

Researchers compared urinary trace-metal profiles across 666 adults from six ethnic groups in three US cohorts, with up to 19 elements measured and paired serum measurements available for the Asian Indian MASALA cohort. Distinct metal patterns emerged across populations, with the findings suggesting that diet, drinking-water sources, regional hydrogeology, urban-rural conditions, smoking, and physiological handling may all contribute to differences in exposure profiles.

8 Sep 2026

A New York skincare survey found mercury where consumers might not expect it

Targeted surveillance of 197 skin-lightening and skincare products purchased in New York City from 2009 to 2022 found detectable mercury in 29%, with 18% exceeding the FDA’s 1 ppm limit and concentrations reaching 27,000 ppm. All mercury-positive products were manufactured abroad, mercury was rarely disclosed on labels, and the findings highlight regulatory, health-equity, and environmental justice concerns.

18 Aug 2026

Blood filtration method helps clear circulating lipids and toxic microplastics

The machine is not new. Some version of it has run in hospital treatment rooms for about four decades, drawing blood from one arm, separating out the plasma, passing it across a filter or an adsorber, and returning it to the other arm.

4 Aug 2026

Study links household drinking water to long-term lithium exposure

Lithium in drinking water is a widespread and persistent source of human exposure across Tribal communities in the Western United States, according to a new study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

24 Jul 2026

Copper isotope shows promise for early childhood anemia detection

The rising incidence of anemia and overweight has been identified as a serious public health problem worldwide, especially among children and adolescents.

21 Jul 2026

Wastewater analysis offers novel approach to track HIV burden

Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) detection in wastewater offers a novel approach to monitor the virus in communities.

15 Jun 2026

DNA metabarcoding reveals hidden freshwater biodiversity in Ontario streams

Researchers using cutting-edge environmental DNA (eDNA) technology have uncovered far greater biodiversity in eastern Ontario waterways than traditional monitoring methods detected over more than a decade, demonstrating the transformative potential of DNA-based biomonitoring for freshwater conservation and environmental management.

25 May 2026

Skin-conforming electrodes improve comfort in long-term heart monitoring

Researchers have created heart monitoring sensors that conform to the skin, are comfortable, and can be worn while people are moving.

20 Apr 2026

Microplastics lab studies may fail to reflect real-world exposure

Microplastics pose health risks, but lab studies often fail to reflect real-world exposure, highlighting critical gaps in toxicological research methodologies.

14 Apr 2026

Mcgill researchers find unexpected chemical contaminants in human milk samples

An interdisciplinary team including researchers at McGill University has found a range of unexpected chemical contaminants in human milk samples from Canada and South Africa.

20 Jan 2026

Even low PFAS in drinking water raise blood levels, California study shows

Researchers in Southern California found that even low levels of PFAS (“forever chemicals”) in public drinking water lead to measurable increases in blood PFAS concentrations. The study underscores the urgent need for stronger water-quality monitoring and stricter PFAS regulations across non-industrial regions.

2 Nov 2025

Children show high exposure to PFAS despite regulatory restrictions

These chemical compounds are highly stable and linger in the environment. Thanks to their water-, oil- and stain-repellent properties, they are widely found in everyday items, such as non-stick pans, waterproof clothing, food containers and fire-fighting foams.

15 Sep 2025

Prenatal phthalates lower boys' verbal IQ but lift girls' performance IQ, Canadian study reveals

Prenatal exposure to certain phthalates, especially DiDP, was linked to slightly lower IQ scores in preschoolers, with boys appearing more vulnerable. Other phthalates, like MMP and MBzP, showed small positive associations, but mixture effects were not significant.

29 Jul 2025

Unveiling the biological frontier: CRAIC Technologies Circular Dichroism Microspectrometers pioneer molecular insights

CRAIC Technologies is proud to introduce Circular Dichroism Microspectroscopy. The field of biology is witnessing a transformative leap forward with the advent of Circular Dichroism (CD) Microspectroscopy, an innovative analytical technique that bridges micron-scale precision with biological applications.

From CRAIC Technologies, Inc. 5 Jun 2025

This bill aims to help firefighters with cancer. Getting it passed is just the beginning.

As firefighters battled the catastrophic blazes in Los Angeles County in January, California's U.S. senators, Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, signed onto legislation with a simple aim: Provide federal assistance to first responders diagnosed with service-related cancer.

9 Apr 2025