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Critical Issues in Biomonitoring
The evidence supporting an association among environmental risk
factors and breast cancer has come primarily from two sources: geographic
and regional variations in breast cancer rates and studies of both
migrant and twin populations, and a growing number of breast cancer
cell and animal studies suggesting an association between breast
cancer risk and exposures to environmental carcinogens and hormonally
active chemicals. Although the relatively few population-based epidemiological
studies on breast cancer and exposures to environmental pollutants
to date have yielded inconsistent results, there is an expanding
belief among governmental agencies, environmental researchers, breast
cancer activists and communities that the use of biological monitoring
(biomonitoring) is integral to the advancement of environmental
and molecular epidemiological research in breast cancer.
Biomonitoring is the assessment of exposure to toxic chemicals
in humans by measuring the presence and concentration of these chemical
compounds, their metabolites (break down products) or their reaction
products (biomarkers) in human biological specimens such as blood,
urine, breast milk, meconium, adipose tissue, saliva, hair or other
tissues.
This presentation provides an overview of the history and current
science of biomonitoring and outlines the benefits and challenges
associated with its use in research, public health and community
advocacy efforts. Ethical issues related to biomonitoring such as
the handling and use of the data and the interpretation and communication
of results at the individual and/or group level are also discussed.
In summary, the main three points of the presentation are:
- Biomonitoring has the potential to make a significant contribution
to research on the role environmental factors play in the development
of disease, including breast cancer.
- While the science of biomonitoring is advancing very quickly,
there continue to exist many uncertainties and unanswered questions
related to its use in research, public health and clinical medicine.
- The present uncertainties associated with biomonitoring combined
with a growing public interest in its use highlight the need to
develop early and effective communication models that faciliatate
an interactive exchange of information and concerns among community
members and researchers on biomonitoring.
© 2006 BCERC. All Rights Reserved BCERC Coordinating Center,
UCSF
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