Iowa's role in biomonitoring

The Iowa Biomonitoring Program is a public health surveillance project conducted by the State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa. We are one of 6 awardees to be funded in 2019 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop a biomonitoring programIowa is also a member of the National Biomonitoring Network (NBN).  The NBN is a collaboration between the CDC, the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) and state public health laboratories, such as the State Hygienic Laboratory in Iowa. 

Our objectives

Our surveillance projects are looking at levels of exposure in private well users and pregnant women to certain environmental chemicals: metals, neonicotinoid insecticides, and phenols.  

Population Study 1: Iowans using private wells for household drinking water

The purpose of this project is to investigate certain water contaminants and conduct analyses to determine if those chemicals are present in your body. This surveillance project will assess exposures to heavy metals, neonicotinoid insecticides, and industrial chemicals known as environmental phenols among state residents who use private well water.

Nearly 36% of Iowa residents live in rural areas and rely on private or community wells for household drinking water.  Wells directly access groundwater sources, which may be vulnerable to contamination. Private wells are not regulated or monitored for state or national water quality standards and community wells (serving 15+ households or 25+ people) lack adequate regulations.  Municipal (city) water supplies have far more stringent water quality standards in place to protect consumers. 

Population Study 2: Maternal Exposures

The surveillance project will assess maternal exposure during pregnancy using residual urine samples from the Maternal-Fetal Tissue Bank at the University of Iowa. 

Our target chemicals

The Iowa Biomonitoring Program is assessing the presence of the chemicals listed below.   See the chemicals section of this site for more information.

  • 2,4-dichlorophenol
  • 2,5-dichlorophenol
  • 5-hydroxyl-imidacloprid
  • Antimony
  • Arsenic
  • Barium
  • Benzophenone-3
  • Beryllium
  • Bisphenol A
  • Bisphenol F
  • Bisphenol S
  • Butyl-paraben
  • Cadmium
  • Cesium
  • Clothianidin
  • Cobalt
  • Ethyl-paraben
  • Imidacloprid
  • Lead
  • Manganese
  • Methyl-paraben
  • Molybdenum
  • Platinum
  • Propyl-paraben
  • Strontium
  • Thallium
  • Thiamethoxam
  • Tin
  • Triclocarban
  • Triclosan
  • Tungsten
  • Uranium