Why is biomonitoring important? What difference will it make to the health of Californians?
The California Environmental Contaminant Biomonitoring Program was created to help identify the presence of toxic chemicals in Californians and to help shape public health and environmental policies. Through biomonitoring we can better understand the exposures of Californians to environmental chemicals – whether certain exposures are increasing or decreasing, and whether some groups of people are much more exposed than others to specific substances. It can also be used to explore potential linkages between chemical exposures and specific diseases or other adverse outcomes. This information can be used to evaluate and, as appropriate, make changes environmental protection programs to improve the health of Californians.
