National Biomonitoring Program

Biomonitoring is the direct measurement of environmental chemicals in people's blood, urine, or other body tissues.

CDC's Environmental Health Laboratory conducts the National Biomonitoring Program (NBP), which currently measures more than 300 environmental chemicals and nutritional indicators in people. All of the methods used have been published in peer-reviewed journals so that other laboratories can use them. NBP also shares its methods with many state public health laboratories, and the program trains these laboratories in the use of these methods.

Each year, NBP works with many different groups, including state health departments, to provide exposure information for public health investigations or emergencies as well as for 60-70 exposure studies. Health officials need biomonitoring information to help them make the best decisions that will benefit the health of the American public. Our scientists also collaborate with U.S. government agencies, state and local health departments, universities, community organizations, and international organizations on national studies of general population exposure and studies of specific exposed populations, such as children.