Abstract
Biomarkers have been useful in studies of environmental chemical exposures and the possible associated causal inference and risk. Their direct use in quantitative risk assessment and chemical regulations development is more limited. Specific chemicals and associated markers include: biomarkers of exposure – blood lead, blood mercury, urinary 1-hydroxypyrene for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, urinary phthalate metabolites, urinary cotinine for environmental tobacco smoke, urinary pesticide metabolites; biomarkers of effect – organophosphates and carbamates and blood cholinesterase inhibition, triazines and pituitary luteinizing hormone surge attenuation, nitrate and methemoglobinemia, selenium and selenosis, tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and response markers, polychlorinated biphenyls and blood thyroxine decrease, benzene and blood cell counts; cancer – related biomarkers (DNA and protein adducts, genetic changes); biomarkers of susceptibility – metabolic enzymes, genetic polymorphism and studies using “omics” methodology. The endpoints, some of which are based on biomarkers, used in risk assessments conducted by environmental regulatory programs on these chemicals, are indicated.
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