Assessing Exposure to Selected Environmental Pollutants in the Israeli Population | Dr. Itamar Grotto

Human biomonitoring, or direct measurement of environmental contaminants in blood, urine and other biological materials, is a powerful tool for assessing exposure to environmental contaminants in the population. When collected in combination with environmental or questionnaire data, biomonitoring data can help elucidate predictors of exposure and provide a basis for interventions to reduce population exposure to environmental contaminants.

 

The primary objective of the proposed study is to assess exposure to several environmental contaminants (organophosphate pesticides, genistein, bisphenol A, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)) in a subset of participants in the 2009 National Health and Nutrition Survey (MABAT), and to compare the levels of exposure in this population with that of populations in Europe and the US. The secondary objective of the study is to examine the dietary predictors of exposure to these contaminants, in order to elucidate the contribution of diet as a source of exposure.

 

Detailed questionnaire data and urine samples will be collected in a subset of 250 MABAT participants. The samples will be analyzed for genistein (a phytoestrogen), organophosphate metabolites (dialkylphosphates (DAPs)), PAH metabolites (1-hydroxy pyrene and hydroxyphenatrenes) and bisphenol A at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany. A subsample of duplicate urine samples (N = 50) will be analyzed at an Israeli laboratory in order to validate the relevant analytical methods in the Israeli laboratory. Data analysis will include comparison of urinary contaminant concentrations in the Israeli population with other populations, and analysis of relationships between intake of specific food items and urinary contaminant concentrations.

 

The proposed study will provide data on population exposures to a variety of environmental contaminants in Israel and will help to identify dietary variations in exposure. The data can be used to elucidate factors contributing to higher exposures, thus creating opportunities for reducing those exposures. Next, the proposed study will introduce state-of-art biomonitoring methods to Israel and will enhance capacity for further biomonitoring studies. Finally, the research framework can be utilized in the future for ongoing biomonitoring studies in Israel.