The state law (Minnesota statute 144.995) that established Minnesota Biomonitoring: Chemicals in People directed the Minnesota Department of Health to conduct four biomonitoring pilot projects.

These projects are complete. Follow-up work in some areas is underway. A strategic plan that made use of lessons learned from these projects guides the ongoing work of MN Biomonitoring.

East Metro PFAS Biomonitoring Pilot Project:
Measured perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS, also known as PFCs) in the blood of 196 adult residents of two East Metro communities with a history of exposure to PAS in drinking water. Found that levels of certain PFAS were higher in East Metro residents than the U.S. population. Follow-up studies were also conducted in 2010 and 2014 to measure change in blood levels over time.

South Minneapolis Children's Arsenic Study:
Measured arsenic levels in the urine of 65 children living in South Minneapolis neighborhoods with known soil contamination. Found that urine arsenic levels in these children were similar to studies in other urban children in the U.S. No relationship was seen between levels of arsenic in a child’s urine and their yard.

Riverside Prenatal Biomonitoring Pilot Project:
Measured exposures to chemicals found in plastics and personal care products (bisphenol A and parabens) and tobacco smoke in the urine of 66 pregnant women receiving care at an urban Minneapolis clinic.

Found differences by income and racial/ethnic group:
- Methyl paraben levels in non-white women were 3 ½ times higher than in white women, and
- BPA and methyl paraben levels were highest in the lowest income group.
- Smoking rates were similar to other state and national data.

Mercury in Newborns in the Lake Superior Basin:
Measured mercury in newborn bloodspots from 1,126 Minnesota newborns born in the Lake Superior region of northern Minnesota.

Found differences:
- Some pregnant women in this area have mercury exposures that need to be reduced. The Minnesota Family Environmental Exposure Tracking (MN FEET) study is a follow-up.

Pregnancy and Newborns Exposure Study:
A collaboration with the University of Minnesota to investigate whether testing newborn bloodspots is a reliable way to measure mercury in newborns. Compared mercury concentrations in paired bloodspots and cord blood from 48 Twin Cities women and infants. Found that concentrations were related, but bloodspot mercury measurements may underestimate in utero exposure. The Minnesota Family Environmental Exposure Tracking (MN FEET) study is a follow-up.

Contact Minnesota Biomonitoring for results summaries and more information on these projects: health.biomonitoring@state.mn.us or 1-800-205-4987 (651-201-5900).

Related links

About Biomonitoring

Biomonitoring Reports

Minnesota Environmental Public Health Tracking