The CHEECS (Center for Health and Environmental Exposure and Contaminant Surveillance) conducts extensive biomonitoring activities aimed at understanding human exposure to various environmental contaminants. These activities involve the development and rigorous testing of laboratory methods for detecting a wide range of contaminants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), neonicotinoids, fungicides, metals, and other environmental contaminants. These substances are analyzed in various biospecimens such as blood, urine, and other biological samples. The primary goal of these methods is to accurately measure the levels of these substances in the human body, providing crucial data for ongoing research.

Key Findings from Recent Research: Recent research published in has yielded key findings related to exposure to neonicotinoid insecticides and nitrate. In a study published in Chemosphere neonicotinoids were found to be prevalent in aquifers vulnerable to surface-applied contaminants and were ubiquitously detected in farmers' urine samples, with a median of 10 different neonicotinoids and/or metabolites. Consumption of well water only partially explains the urine neonicotinoid results, suggesting that diet is likely an important factor contributing to these findings.

In the study of nitrates found in Science of the Total Environment , few studies have evaluated nitrate excretion among users of unregulated private wells. Water and dietary intakes were found to be independent predictors of nitrate excretion, with both sources explaining a similar amount of variation in excretion. At levels at or above the regulatory limit, water was a major contributor to nitrate exposure.

These findings highlight the complex interplay between environmental contaminants, water sources, and dietary habits in determining human exposure levels.