**GAO-09-353**                      Published: Apr 30, 2009. Publicly Released: Jun 08, 2009.                  

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## Highlights

Biomonitoring, which measures chemicals in people's tissues or body fluids, has shown that the U.S. population is widely exposed to chemicals used in everyday products. Some of these have the potential to cause cancer or birth defects. Moreover, children may be more vulnerable to harm from these chemicals than adults. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is authorized under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to control chemicals that pose unreasonable health risks. GAO was asked to review the (1) extent to which EPA incorporates information from biomonitoring studies into its assessments of chemicals, (2) steps that EPA has taken to improve the usefulness of biomonitoring data, and (3) extent to which EPA has the authority under TSCA to require chemical companies to develop and submit biomonitoring data to EPA.

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## Topics

Natural Resources and Environment

Birth defectsChemical exposureChemical industryChemicalsData collectionEnvironmental monitoringHealth hazardsInformation managementPesticidesPollution controlPublic healthResearch programsRisk assessmentRisk managementSafety regulationSafety standardsStrategic planningToxic substances