We are all exposed to chemicals in our water, air, food, and household products. Some may be harmful to our health. Biomonitoring measures chemicals in people’s bodies. By looking at differences between groups of people, we can learn about who is being exposed to what, if some groups are exposed more than others, and if this changes over time. It does not diagnose a medical condition or predict a future illness, but can help inform decisions that will reduce exposures to potentially harmful chemicals. Learn more about biomonitoring.

What is Healthy Kids Minnesota?

Healthy Kids Minnesota will help us better understand children’s exposures to chemicals of concern. Working with partners in local public health and school districts, the program will use biomonitoring to measure chemicals in preschool-age kids across the state. We will focus on one Metro and one non-Metro area each year, moving systematically through different regions of the state.

Why are we doing Healthy Kids Minnesota?

Children’s developing bodies are especially vulnerable to chemical exposures. Healthy Kids Minnesota will give us a picture of children’s chemical exposures statewide. We will learn if more action is needed to protect preschoolers from chemicals so they are ready to learn and do well in school. Results will help inform families, address community concerns, and promote policies that reduce childhood exposures and create healthy neighborhoods and homes for kids.

Who can be in Healthy Kids Minnesota?

The program is for children 3-6 years old who come in for their scheduled Early Childhood Screening appointments in certain regions of the state where our program is working. Screening staff will introduce the program to those families, and participation is voluntary. Children must be willing and able to give us a urine sample with their families’ consent.

Where is the program being offered?

Recruitment is not currently being offered for Healthy Kids Minnesota. The program will begin again with Healthy Kids Minnesota 2025 in Northwest/West Central Minnesota and the East/Southeast Metro region. Specific school districts and counties have not been determined yet, but locations will be posted when available.

Past partners include:

Healthy Kids Minnesota 2023: Central Minnesota (Todd County, Wadena County, Big Lake Public Schools, Princeton Public Schools) and the West-Southwest Metro region (Bloomington Public Schools, Edina Public Schools).
Healthy Kids Minnesota 2022: Northeast Minnesota (Cloquet Public Schools, Cook County, Duluth Public Schools) and St. Paul (St. Paul Public Schools).
Healthy Kids Minnesota 2021: Southeast Minnesota (Fillmore County, Olmsted County, Rochester Public Schools) and Minneapolis (Minneapolis Public Schools).

What does it mean for kids and families to participate?

During the Early Childhood Screening appointment, families can choose to join the program and complete a short survey. Their child provides a urine sample. Each family gets a $40 gift card for their time. If they choose, families will receive their child’s individual results in the mail, along with information on how to avoid the chemicals on the list. If a child’s urine has high levels of certain chemicals, we will call the family to help figure out how the child may be coming into contact with the chemicals and how to avoid them in the future.

What about privacy?

All personal information is kept private and is protected by Minnesota law.

Which chemicals are being measured?

The Public Health Laboratory at MDH will measure more than 45 chemicals, including:

Metals found in drinking water, air pollution, and some foods and products.
Pesticides used in agriculture and to control pests in and around the home.
Phthalates found in personal care products, toys, and some foods.
Flame retardants found in household products like furniture and toys.
Environmental phenols found in personal care products, toys, and some foods.
Air pollution markers found in air pollution from industry and vehicles, smoking, eating some foods, and fires/smoke.

More information on the chemicals and ways to reduce exposures in children is available on the Chemical Information and Resources page.

What happens to the urine samples?

After being collected at the child’s Early Childhood Screening visit, the urine samples will go to the Minnesota Department of Health Public Health Laboratory to be analyzed for the list of chemicals above. Leftover urine will be destroyed after testing in the region is complete unless families give permission to have it tested in the future.

When will results be available?

Results will be shared with participants first. Because it takes time to test for the chemicals, it may take up to a year or more to send all results to families. After this happens, community reports will be published for each year of the program. We will release a report on statewide findings after completion of the five cycles.

Where can I get more information?

Email us questions at health.biomonitoring@state.mn.us. You can also read more about past studies, successes, and background for the MN Biomonitoring Program.

Biomonitoring

Related Sites

Environmental Health Division