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Updates from Minnesota Biomonitoring



1000 Kids Screened
Healthy Kids Minnesota Recruitment Surpasses 1,000 Kids

More than 1,000 children throughout Minnesota have been screened for exposures to harmful chemicals through the Healthy Kids Minnesota program. This program is providing critical information to identify groups at risk for chemical exposure, and to inform and evaluate policies and programs that reduce exposures.

The program began in 2021. With the help of amazing partners in school districts, local public health agencies, and tribal nations, we have completed two cycles of the program and begun our third. The program rotates in a 5-year cycle, working in one non-Metro and one Metro region per year.

We are currently:


* Recruiting children in Todd and Wadena counties (65 kids so far!) with the help of Wadena County Public Health and Todd County Health and Human Services. After parental consent, staff collect a urine sample during Early Childhood Screening appointments. Urine samples are analyzed for over 70 chemicals by the MDH Public Health Laboratory.
* About to start recruitment in early November in partnership with Bloomington Public Schools.
* Hoping to start recruitment this fall at additional sites in Central Minnesota and the West/Southwest Metro.
* Returning results of chemical testing to the families in our prior program cycles (see below for more).

See Healthy Kids Minnesota [ [link removed] ] online for complete information about the program.



Responding to Cases Above Follow-up Levels in Healthy Kids Minnesota Participants

For three chemicals measured ? arsenic, manganese, and mercury ? MDH contacts families of children whose urine results are above a threshold indicating a higher-than-expected exposure. We call families to share the results, answer their questions, ask about possible sources of exposure, and offer a free urine re-test and other advice/interventions to reduce their child?s exposure. For Healthy Kids Minnesota 2022, testing identified 39 children with urine results above the follow-up levels. MDH staff are contacting and working with these families.

Results for all other chemicals are sent to families in three different mailings, along with more information and tips on ways to reduce child exposures to the chemicals tested. All materials have been translated into four languages. View the Hmong, Karen, Somali, and Spanish information sheets [ [link removed] ].

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Biomonitoring Presentations

* Jessica Nelson, Erin Batdorff, Michael Xiong, John Gilkeson, Lisa Strong, Sheila Amenumey. Urine Mercury Biomonitoring: Development of State Exposure Guidance, Intervention and Testing Protocols, and Case Examples [presentation]. International Society of Exposure Science Annual Meeting 2023, Aug. 27-31, 2023, Chicago, IL.
* Jessica Nelson, Suad Salad, Iftu Hunte, Sheila Amenumey, Carin Huset. Feedback from Minnesota Families on Report-back Methods for their Child?s Biomonitoring Results [presentation]. International Society of Exposure Science Annual Meeting 2023, Aug. 27- 31, 2023, Chicago, IL.
* Fathi Ahmed, Jessie Carr. Healthy Kids Minnesota: Central Region Public Health Director?s Meeting [presentation]. Aug. 11, 2023.

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October 2023 Advisory Panel Meeting Summary

*Wildfire Smoke Meteorology and Forecasting at the MPCA*
Matt Taraldsen from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency gave an overview of how meteorologists are working to improve forecasting for wildfire events and communicate proactively about what Minnesotans can expect and do to protect their health on air alert days. Panel members were invited to ask questions.

*Wildfire Smoke and Asthma ED Visits During the 2021 Wildfire Season ? Preliminary Analysis*
MDH Environmental Epidemiologist Kathy Raleigh presented a preliminary analysis of health impacts looking back at the unprecedented wildfire season and smoke events in 2021. The presentation focused on asthma emergency department (ED) visits to better understand the magnitude of the health burden. Next steps will focus on specific populations and geographical regions to identify disparate impacts and inform public health.

*Healthy Kids Minnesota Updates and Next Steps*
MDH Biomonitoring staff Fathi Ahmed and Jessica Nelson presented updates on recruitment and elevated case response for Healthy Kids Minnesota 2022, and looked ahead to Healthy Kids Minnesota 2023 and a new grant application. Panel members were invited to ask questions.

See the EHTB Advisory Panel Information Book for October 2023 [ [link removed] ] (PDF)?




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