Advanced laboratory science is essential for researchers working to identify and prevent the adverse health effects of human exposure to toxic substances. The ability to measure and manage the health risks associated with human exposure to environmental hazards is critically dependent on state-of-the-art technology and on experts skilled in interpreting study results produced by using that technology. CDC's Environmental Health Laboratory has both: experts and the latest technology.
Our programs are many and varied. However, most of our energy and resources are devoted to biomonitoring (i.e. directly measuring the level of human exposure to environmental toxicants). CDC's Environmental Health Laboratory has developed methods for measuring more than 300 toxicants in human biologic samples, thus obviating the need for researchers to estimate the human health effects of exposure to toxicants on the basis of animal studies or environmental measurements. These measurements of human exposure to toxicants also allow public policy makers and regulators to base their policy decisions on accurate information, rather than on estimates or intuition.
Other important CDC Environmental Health Laboratory programs include programs for standardizing laboratory measurements associated with cardiovascular disease, quality control and performance evaluation for state public health laboratories that provide newborn screening services, studies of nutrition-related disease, research into the relationship between genetics and environmental exposure as factors in the cause of disease, and studies of women's health.
Our researchers collaborate with many partners: U.S. government agencies, state and local health departments, academic institutions, community organizations, philanthropic foundations, and international organizations. We invite inquiries about our programs as well as suggestions for scientific collaboration that would benefit public health.
Eric J. Sampson, Ph.D.
Director
