biomonitor News

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued areport entitled Biomonitoring: EPA Needs to Coordinate Its Research Strategy and Clarify Its Authority to Obtain Biomonitoring Data that highlights shortcomings in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) collection and use of biomonitoring data. This memorandum summarizes the report. Scope of the GAO Review In the report, ...

Jun. 8, 2009

By Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.

JRC-IRMM has released ERM-DB001, a new human hair material certified for the mass fraction of the total content of As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, Se and Zn at the mg/kg range. Human hair is frequently used to monitor the exposure of humans to certain metals, as hair keeps record of past contact due to its ...

Jul. 25, 2013

By European Commission, JRC, Directorate F - Health, Consumers and Reference Materials

Pharmaceutical pollution of marine environments has important biological consequences for aquatic organisms. This study investigated the effects on mussels of treatment with environmentally relevant levels of an antidepressant, fluoxetine, and a beta-blocker, propranolol, using biomarkers including DNA damage. The results showed that mussels are most vulnerable to these drugs in combination. Many ...

Oct. 1, 2015

By European Commission, Environment DG

The framework for a Europe-wide biomonitoring programme has been established by a new study. The preliminary investigation of 17 European countries showed that monitored levels of toxic chemicals varied significantly between countries. Although the levels were mostly within recognised health-based guidance values, in a few cases these values were exceeded. The researchers suggest that a ...

Oct. 22, 2015

By European Commission, Environment DG

EPA announced $4 million in grants to five institutions that will work on improving biomonitoring at the Public Health Applications of Human Biomonitoring Meeting.  The meeting of experts was sponsored by EPA and the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) Monday and Tuesday at EPA's Research Triangle Park campus. 'Protecting public health is an important part of this research ...

Sep. 25, 2007

By US EPA - Environmental Protection Agency

The Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a relevant parameter for the assessment of the pollution of sewage. Its fast analyses allows the optimal control of a waste water treatment plant (WWTP). LAR's BioMonitor is an online BOD ...

Mar. 3, 2015

By LAR Process Analysers AG

The biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) reflects the demand of oxygen that is needed for the degradation of all biological degradable substances in water. Thus, the BOD, also called biological oxygen demand, is an important indicator for the assessment of the pollution of water. Its fast analyses allows the optimal ...

Oct. 21, 2015

By LAR Process Analysers AG

LAR's BioMonitor is an online BOD analyzer for the determination of the total biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). The analyzers' functional principle is similar to a miniature biological waste water treatment plant. The waste ...

Jan. 20, 2017

By LAR Process Analysers AG

The biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) reflects the demand of oxygen that is needed for the degradation of all biological degradable substances in water. Thus, the BOD, also called biological oxygen demand, is an important indicator for the assessment of the pollution of water. Its fast ...

Oct. 23, 2015

By LAR Process Analysers AG

The BIOAMBIENT.ES project is the first human biomonitoring programme to estimate levels of environmental pollutants at national level in Spain. This study reports its findings on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), chemicals that are ubiquitous in the environment. The results will help to establish reference values, identify highly exposed populations and evaluate effectiveness of policies. ...

Nov. 19, 2015

By European Commission, Environment DG

Today the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health held a hearing entitled 'Current Science on Public Exposures to Toxic Chemicals.' Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Chair of the Subcommittee, criticized the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for failing to provide the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the necessary ...

Feb. 4, 2010

By Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.

The Comet assay is being used with increasing popularity in biomonitoring studies to determine the level of DNA damage in workers exposed to potentially hazardous chemicals and radiation. The assay is an ideal biomarker for such investigations due to its sensitivity and reliability in detecting DNA damage and repair. A large number of research groups are utilising our ...

Mar. 30, 2011

By Perceptive Instruments Ltd.

A new system for monitoring toxicity TOXcontrol® (MicroLAN BV, The Netherlands) has been used to assess the toxicity of a selection of priority or emergent compounds in the laboratory. In this study, inhibition curves and EC50 – Effective Concentration causing 50% inhibition – of selected compounds (including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, surfactants and metals commonly detected in ...

Feb. 20, 2017

By microLAN B.V.

 EnviroScience, Inc. has been selected as a prime contractor for a five-year $37.3 million contract with the Environmental Protection Agency's National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS) program. "The expertise of our biologists, lab specialists and fishery scientists makes us a natural fit for the EPA's requirements of gauging the health of the nation's water," said Martin A. Hilovsky, ...

Mar. 26, 2012

By EnviroScience, Inc.

California environmental contaminant biomonitoring program report updated.In a release from February of this year, the State of California identified crystalline silica as an “air contaminant”. Crystalline silica had also been classified as a ‘human lung carcinogen’ in a fact sheet released by OSHA sometime ago. In addition, it is reported that breathing in crystalline silica dust can cause ...

Apr. 1, 2009

Europe must work hard to meet objectives set for 2010 on reducing the health impacts of environmental pollution, according a draft resolution expected to be adopted by environment ministers in December. The resolution will detail EU governments' position on the implementation of an action plan unveiled by the European commission in 2004. The text has been proposed by the Portuguese EU presidency ...

Nov. 15, 2007

By Environmental News and Data Services (ENDS)

PerkinElmer Life and Analytical Sciences, a global leader in application-focused measurement and analysis solutions, today introduced its enhanced environmental market Web site.  The site provides improved functionality and searching capabilities to enable environmental scientists to quickly obtain information on regulatory compliance, methods or standards, applications and product ...

Sep. 30, 2008

By PerkinElmer, Inc.

On August 19th the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched a new web page to better protect human health and the environment from pesticides. The website, “explains the development and evaluation of new technologies in molecular, cellular, and computational sciences to supplement or replace more traditional methods of toxicity testing and risk assessment.”According to the EPA website the ...

Aug. 28, 2009

Congratulations to the 2015 Environment Division Research and Development Dima Award winner:                         Dr. Frank R. Wania     ...

Mar. 7, 2016

By Dikma Technologies Inc.

Embracing new social media tools, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on August 18, 2011, invited stakeholders to provide feedback on its new approach for identifying priority chemicals for review and assessment under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Noting that EPA's online discussion forum will remain open until 5:00 p.m. (EDT) on September 14, 2011, EPA invited public input ...

Aug. 23, 2011

By Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.