BiomonitoringNH Studies

2019 - 2024 Studies

1. The BiomonitoringNH Program will collaborate with the DPHS Healthy Homes Lead Program and work with families of children that present with elevated blood lead levels by offering testing and education. The families will receive follow up two years later to see if interventions have reduced the level of lead in their blood.
2. In Northern NH, the Berlin area is less resilient and has an EPA superfund site that contains mercury, dioxins, and other chemicals. This Biomonitoring project will determine vulnerabilities for area citizens by testing to see if chemical levels in Berlin residents differ from the average population in NH or the nation. The study will include analyzing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (found in items such as liquid fuels, paints/varnishes, and cleaning and disinfecting products), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pesticides, herbicides, and metals.
3. The BiomonitoringNH Program will collaborate with the United States Geological Survey and the DPHS Environmental Public Health Tracking Section to explore exposure to uranium, arsenic, and other metals in areas at increased risk for uranium groundwater contamination. BiomonitoringNH will invite residents who use private well water at home from ten areas of the state.  Resident urine will be tested for 22 metals, private well water will be tested for metals and water quality indicators, and home air will be tested for radon.
4. The final project will include follow up analysis of the 2019 NH Tracking and Assessment of Chemical Exposures Study (2019 NH TrACE), a statewide look at many different metals, pesticides, PFAS, and cotinine (an indicator of nicotine exposure) in NH residents. The 2024 TrACE Study will take place five years after the first assessment and will determine if reductions in body burden have occurred after intervention efforts and will include additional contaminants of concern (such as VOCs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and mercury).

2014 - 2019 Studies

1. A targeted public health study looking at arsenic and uranium in well water and whether those chemicals are getting into people’s bodies in our state.
2. A statewide surveillance public health study looking at many different metals, pesticides, and other environmental chemicals such as tobacco smoke.

Why participate in a Biomonitoring project?

You can learn about the chemicals you come into contact with, so you can make informed choices to reduce your exposure.

The information can help evaluate and make changes to public policy and interventions to protect you and your community from environmental chemicals.

Your participation will help add valuable information to learn more about the relationship between chemical exposures, body burden, and health, as well as advance our knowledge in science and public health.