Minnesota Biomonitoring developed a strategic plan that will track exposures to chemicals in vulnerable Minnesota populations with a focus on pregnant women, children and disadvantaged communities. This program can provide data to inform decisions and evaluate actions for protecting future generations.

Vision, purpose and strategies

Vision: Minnesotans will lead healthier lives in safer environments

Purpose:

Identify differences in the levels of chemicals among Minnesota's diverse populations, which may differ by income, ethnicity, culture, or geographic location
Assess the need for public health policy and action
Track changes over time to find out whether actions taken to reduce chemical exposures have been effective

Strategies:

Protect Future Generations
Select Chemicals for Biomonitoring So People Can Take Action
Use a Smart, Cost-Effective Tracking Approach

Many studies of environmental exposures focus on adults. Fewer studies focus on pregnant women and infants. Given that funding for the National Children's Study in Minnesota is faltering, there is a huge gap in data about pregnant women and children. With continued funding, the MDH Biomonitoring Program can help address this gap.

Beth Baker, M.D., Specialist in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, St. Paul, MN

Protect future generations

PROTECT those who are most vulnerable to the effects of chemicals found in Minnesota and who are least able to modify their environment to avoid exposure.

Newborns and children
Women of childbearing age
Disadvantaged communities

Select chemicals for biomonitoring so people can take action

SELECT chemicals that are a concern in Minnesota because of our natural environment, industries, or diverse people. We can choose to study chemicals that provide the most meaningful data for making public health decisions, such as those with known health effects or identifiable sources of exposure.

Use a smart, cost-effective tracking approach

USE systematic, repeated biomonitoring in vulnerable Minnesota communities to track chemical exposures. We can track trends over time, see whether certain demographic or geographic groups have higher exposures than others, and evaluate efforts to reduce exposure in these groups. The program can start with a small number of communities and expand in the future as funding allows. Data can be integrated with the MN Tracking Program, and used to inform public health action and decisions by communities, policy makers, and public health officials. Individuals can use the information to make personal health choices.

About the strategic plan

This strategic plan was developed with our expert Advisory Panel and is based on lessons learned from biomonitoring projects, meetings with diverse stakeholders, and national guidance.

Biomonitoring

Related Sites

Environmental Health Division