Wednesday, April 2, 2025
4/2/2025
Biomonitoring of Chemical Exposures in Michigan: Statewide Surveillance and a Focused Community Investigation Among Pregnant Adults - Background Michigans industrial history has left a well documented legacy of chemical contamination. A significant number of contaminated sites have been identified throughout Michigan. The presence of these sites and characteristics of Michigans population may mean that Michiganders experience unique chemical exposures. In 2019 supported by CDC MDHHS began a statewide biomonitoring program to better understand the distribution and determinants of chemical exposures at the state level with the aim of informing future interventions. MDHHS seeks funding to leverage its existing capabilities to continue biomonitoring focusing on mitigating disparities in chemical exposures. Objectives Michigan will conduct a community investigation in pregnant adults in increased risk areas to investigate if they have concentration of select environmental chemicals like per and polyfluoroalkyl substances PFAS and heavy metals arsenic AS mercury Hg lead Pb and species for As and Hg above those of Michigan adults Strategy A. Michigan will also continue to implement statewide human biomonitoring surveillance for PFAS polychlorinated biphenyls PCBs polybrominated diphenyl ethers PBDEs polybrominated biphenyl congener 153 PBB organochlorine pesticides OCP As Pb cadmium Cd chromium Cr manganese Mn Hg selenium Se thallium Tl and As and Hg species to establish exposure reference concentrations for Michigan Adults and oversample adults from areas with high environmental justice index EJI scores Strategy B. Methods Strategy A will partner with a convenience sample of prenatal clinics located in selected increased risk areas based on EJI scores and presence of contamination sites with a preference for high volume clinics. MDHHS will enroll pregnant adults via 1 provider referrals and 2 direct distribution of recruitment materials to eligible Medicaid beneficiaries. Strategy B will use three stage stratified sampling. Zones composed of two or more census tracts will be selected within four geographic strata with a probability of selection proportional to the zone EJI score. Household addresses within selected zones will then be randomly sampled. One adult per household will be randomly chosen for participation. Both strategies will require participants to provide blood and urine samples for measurement of chemicals of interest and take place at the MDHHS mobile laboratory or stationary pop up sites. The MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories will analyze all samples. MDHHS toxicologists will provide participants that have elevated concentrations with resources and interventions to mitigate exposure. Evaluation activities including participant surveys will be used to assess adoption of intervention strategies for all participants. Outcomes The principal performance goals of MDHHSs projects are to assess exposure to environmental chemicals in Michigan adults including pregnant adults at increased risk provide education that will enable them to make informed decisions to protect themselves from future chemical exposures identify and assess the effectiveness of existing exposure reduction strategies where possible and guide public health decision making on interventions to reduce chemical exposures.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).