The three research themes are

Biomarkers of exposure or toxic effect

The identification of robust markers, such as the presence of the chemical in human urine or blood, following exposure to hazardous chemicals will enable much better health risk assessments following chemical incidents.

This work is a priority for the HPA and its partner organisations and is a long-term undertaking in view of the current extent of the knowledge gap.

The Health Protection Agency and the Department of Health are currently undertaking a scoping study of Current and Planned Human Biomonitoring Projects in the UK.

Scoping Study of Human Biomonitoring Projects

Susceptibility Factors

There are major gaps in our understanding of how and why factors such as family history, age, sex, existing disease and environmental conditions influence an individual's susceptibility to the harmful effects of chemicals. Understanding how these factors contribute to the range of individual responses to toxic chemicals observed in different populations will improve the quality of public health advice. It will also make best use of current resources for health improvement and protection, particularly for children.

Chronic Exposures and Long-Term Health Effects

The long term health effects of chronic low level exposure to harmful chemicals are currently less well understood than the effects of single, high level exposure. The mechanisms underlying the toxic effects of chronic exposure are likely to be very different from the mechanisms underlying acute effects. This is particularly important for understanding the causes of many diseases including cancer and degenerative diseases of the nervous system, as well as negative effects on reproduction.

Given the concerns about landfill sites, for example, and environmentally persistant chemicals, this area is likely to remain in the public eye.

A major programme of research is necessary to understand the detailed mechanisms underlying adverse health effects resulting from chronic exposure. This will then enable us to improve the public's health by controlling critical exposures. 

• Scoping Study of Current and Planned Human Biomonitoring Projects in the UK
  The HPA and the Department of Health are undertaking a scoping study of current and planned human biomonitoring projects in the UK. The information will feed in to the inventory of biomonitoring activities being gathered across the EU as part of Action 3 of the European Environment & Health Action Plan 2004-2010, "To develop a coherent approach to Human Biomonitoring in Europe".
  Added/updated: 5 March 2010