Exposure and Health Investigations

Biomonitoring tells us about people's exposure to chemicals by measuring them in blood, urine, or hair. It measures the amount of a chemical that actually enters the body when people are exposed through air, food, and drink, and by absorbing it through the skin. As the most direct measure of a person's exposure, biomonitoring provides a critical link between chemical hazards in the environment and potential health effects.

MDH conducts biomonitoring studies or investigations for surveillance or evaluation of policies and programs.

Projects:

• Healthy Kids Minnesota
• Healthy Rural and Urban Kids
• Minnesota Family Environmental Exposure Tracking (MN FEET)
• Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the East Metro
• Biomonitoring Study of a Tribal Community Living in the Lake Superior Basin
• Mercury in Newborns in the Lake Superior Basin

To learn more, visit:

• Minnesota Biomonitoring: Chemicals in People - Our state biomonitoring program that conducts different projects that measure levels of chemicals in Minnesotans and whether exposures differ between groups and over time
• Minnesota Public Health Data Access provides facts and figures about specific chemicals in people. Visit Chemicals in people: biomonitoring to access the data.

The Minnesota Arsenic Study measured arsenic levels in private well water of western Minnesota, considered environmental causes of arsenic contamination, and examined methods of detecting arsenic presence and toxicity in persons who consume it in water from private wells.

The goals of MARS were to: measure arsenic concentrations in private wells in areas known to have arsenic contaminated groundwater (up to 150 μg/l); develop useful geochemical, geographic, and/or geological indicators to identify Minnesota drinking water wells that are at risk of containing elevated concentrations of arsenic; determine whether people using wells that are relatively high in arsenic show evidence of exposure, as measured by elevated levels of urine and hair arsenic; and determine whether people using wells that are relatively high in arsenic show evidence of toxic effect as defined by a significant upward trend in porphyrinuria as a function of arsenic exposure.

MARS showed that most, if not all, arsenic in Minnesota drinking water comes from geologic sources. In the MARS area, the arsenic probably comes from shale brought into Minnesota by the many glaciers that crossed the state. MARS also found that arsenic is being removed from some local areas and concentrated in others. This is probably due to groundwater flow and chemical reactions. In general, well water arsenic was positively associated with hair and urine arsenic levels; individuals who had higher arsenic measurements in their hair and urine also had higher levels of arsenic in their drinking water. Urine porphyrins did not exhibit a significant relationship with water arsenic or with hair arsenic. Hair and urine may be useful biomarkers for arsenic exposure in populations. Urine porphyrin likely is not a useful biomarker for pre-clinical toxic effects of arsenic.

Health studies have shown an increase in asbestos-related disease among people who have worked in vermiculite mines and processing facilities. There have also been reports of asbestos-related disease among family member of workers, as well as residents of the surrounding community.

To learn more about exposures to the community and possible health risks, MDH investigators interviewed residents living near the site. Former residents and owners of contaminated properties were also interviewed. This information, together with additional studies from Libby, Montana, has helped to identify the extent of asbestos exposure to workers and the community.

Visit Western Mineral Products to learn more about this investigation.

The Nitrate Exposure and Infant Risk Study (NEXIR) investigated the occurrence of nitrate and bacteria in private drinking water wells and the potential health impact that exposure may have on young children.

NEXIR was designed to examine how infants in Minnesota may be exposed to nitrate from private drinking water wells. NEXIR was a population-based study; that is, its findings characterize a cross-section of Minnesota residents who use private well water. The objectives of NEXIR were to: investigate nitrate and bacteria occurrence in drinking water among private well users; investigate history of water use, and exposure to nitrate and bacteria in young children; as related to indications of methemeglobinemia or diarrhea; assess existing knowledge among caregivers of young children about risks of nitrate exposure; and assess the need for further education for caregivers and physicians.

Preliminary analysis of water samples shows that nitrate and bacterial contamination differed between regions. Nitrate-nitrogen levels from the wellhead were over 10 mg/L in about 6% of Region I samples, and in about 23% of Region II samples. Total coliform bacteria were present in 19% of Region I samples and in about 66% of Region II samples. Fecal coliform bacteria were present in just under 1% of Region I samples and in about 17% of Region II samples. In Region I, 96% of household members drank the tap water versus 77% in Region II. Thirty percent of household members were children, with 6% below the age of 6. All participants were sent a letter with individual nitrate and bacteria results, along with MDH recommendations, within two months of their household visit.

Seven cattle, from a herd of about 20, in central Minnesota died of lead poisoning. Prior to a site visit, the source of the lead was not known. The residents of the farm consumed milk from a cow in the herd. In addition, the residents consumed, almost exclusively, produce and meats grown on their own and neighboring farms. The farm had a new well that showed marginally elevated lead and arsenic concentrations. At least one member of the family complained of diarrhea, and the children complained of headaches.

The site visit found that old, broken lead-acid batteries were the source of the lead poisoning. Direct exposure of the family to the lead from the batteries was unlikely, but cows’ milk was a potential route of exposure. Lead concentrations in well water samples drawn during the site visit were lower than those of previous samples and decreased with flushing. It was likely that the lead in the water was from particulates in the new well and would decrease with use or flushing. Arsenic concentrations in well water exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Maximum Contaminant Level at that time. The Minnesota Department of Health recommended that water from this well not be used for drinking or cooking. The arsenic in the well water was likely natural.

Treatment or alternate sources of drinking water were recommended. Blood lead samples from the residents were below levels of concern. However, there were very high levels of lead in milk from a dairy cow and it was expected that tissue concentrations from some individual cattle in this herd were also likely to be elevated above levels of concern. It was expected that blood lead levels in poisoned cattle would remain above normal concentrations. It was recommended that these cattle should be monitored individually to assure that blood lead levels are normal before meat or milk from the animals were consumed.

In May 2008 the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) was contacted by citizens living in the area surrounding the Excel Dairy of Excel Township, Marshall County, Minnesota. The citizens complained of strong odors and numerous health effects that they felt were related to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas coming from manure lagoons on the dairy property.

In response to these citizen requests, MDH and the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) conducted an Exposure Investigation in July 2008, measuring H2S gas in air at three residences near the Excel Dairy. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) also monitored H2S at the Excel Dairy fenceline from May through October 2008.

In September 2008, based on the ATSDR and MPCA monitoring results, ATSDR and MDH wrote a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and MPCA. The letter concluded that the Excel Dairy is a public health hazard and urged actions to reduce H2S emissions. In March 2009, MPCA published a Notice of Intent to Revoke and Reissue the Excel Dairy Permit. Also in March ATSDR and MDH jointly issued a full report the Exposure Investigation and MPCA monitoring results.

MDH worked with residents, community groups, developers, and other parties to ensure that public health issues were considered during construction of the CCLRT line.

See the full report here: Healthy Communities Count! Indicators of Community Health along the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit (LRT) Route (PDF)