September 2010
Biomonitoring: A Scientific Technique for Assessing Human Exposures
Our bodies can absorb substances present in our environments, and technology now allows researchers to measure even extremely tiny concentrations of substances found in humans. This field of research is known as biomonitoring. In 2007, Sen. Katie Sieben and Rep. Julie Bunn led the effort to fund a biomonitoring pilot program in Minnesota to test people in communities whose drinking water had been contaminated with perfluorochemicals (PFCs) used at 3M’s Cottage Grove plant. Biomonitoring data can be very useful in understanding the extent to which people have been exposed to particular substances and provide guidance for additional research.
A 2007 law created the Environmental Health Tracking and Biomonitoring (EHTB) program at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). The pilot program was a two-year project to conduct specific biomonitoring studies for exposure to arsenic, mercury, and perfluorochemicals. MDH issued its report to the legislature last year, concluding that “though not yet completed, the biomonitoring pilot projects have already provided MDH with many valuable lessons about carrying out state biomonitoring efforts. The state’s capacity for conducting biomonitoring has been built in numerous areas.” (p. 27)
NCSL has published a useful guide, “Biomonitoring: A Best Practices Report for State Legislators.” The report “reviews state biomonitoring policies to identify important program elements and discuss options for how the elements can be addressed in state legislation.” (p. 3) The NCSL report discusses topics such as biomonitoring policy elements, protocols and guidelines, and community participation and outreach.
The issue of exposure to environmental chemicals continues to be one of interest, and biomonitoring is a sophisticated tool in the effort to provide direction for future research and policy.
New & Notable Books and Reports
Many of the items listed below are available electronically. If so, we have provided a
link to the document. However, some of the documents may be very long. You can request to
borrow our print copy of any of the items by selecting the check-box and clicking on the
"Request Items" button.
Organic Farm Performance in Minnesota. Minn. Dept. of Agriculture. 2010. S605.5 .O742 2009. Minn. Publication 10-0794.
Mandated by: 1999 Minn. Laws Chap. 231 Sec. 56 (Minn. Stat. 31.94)http://www.mda.state.mn.us/~/media/Files/food/organicgrowing/orgfarmperf2009.ashx
Financial Audit Division: Minnesota State Arts Board Internal Control and Compliance Audit. Office of the Legislative Auditor. August 12, 2010. HJ9865.A27 no. 10-26. Minn. Publication 10-0799.
Kids Count Data Book: State Profiles of Child Well-Being. Annie E. Casey Foundation. 2010. Ref HQ792.U6 K53 2010.
This reference book is available for use in the Library or it may be checked out for a short period of time.
Auto Theft Prevention Report to the State of Minnesota Governor and Legislature. Minn. Dept. of Commerce. January 2010. HV6661.M6 M55 2009. Minn. Publication 10-0772.
Mandated by: 2000 Minn. Laws Chap. 488 Art. 6 Sec. 7 (Minn. Stat. 65B.84 Subd. 2 (prev. 299A.75 Subd. 2))http://archive.leg.state.mn.us/docs/2010/mandated/100772.pdf
Probation Survey. Minn. Dept. of Corrections. April 2010. HV9278 .P76 2009. Minn. Publication 10-0800.
Diebel, Jeff. Short Subjects: Overview of Criminal Sexual Conduct Crimes (Updated). House Research. July 2010. HN79.M6 S56 2010.
Language Use in the United States: 2007. U.S. Census Bureau. October 2003. P377 .S552 2010.
State and Metropolitan Area Data Book. Census Bureau. 2010. Ref HA202.S84 2010.
This reference book is available for use in the Library or it may be checked out for a short period of time.
Hacker, Andrew and Claudia Dreifus. Higher Education?: How Colleges Are Wasting Our Money And Failing Our Kids - And What We Can Do About It. Times Books. 2010. LA227.4 .H33 2010.
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board Early Separation Incentive (BESI) Payments to Employees Who Terminated in FY 10. Minn. State Colleges and Universities. August 5, 2010. JK6160.P4 M55 2010. Minn. Publication 10-0792.
Mandated by: 2009 Minn. Laws Chap. 169 Art. 6 Sec. 1 (Minn. Stat. 136F.481)http://archive.leg.state.mn.us/docs/2010/mandated/100792.pdf
Condition of Education. National Center for Education Statistics. 2010. Ref L112 .N377a 2010.
This reference book is available for use in the Library or it may be checked out for a short period of time.
Larson, Lisa. Short Subjects: Minnesota's High School Graduation Requirements (Updated). House Research. July 2010. HN79.M6 S56 2010.
Larson, Lisa. Short Subjects: Voluntary School Integration: 2007 U.S. Supreme Court Decision. House Research. July 2010. HN79.M6 S56 2010.
Transportation Energy Data Book. United States Dept. of Energy. 2010. Ref HD9502.U52 T772 2010.
This reference book is available for use in the Library or it may be checked out for a short period of time.
State Resource Recovery Program Recommendations Report. Minn. Office of Environmental Assistance. June 2010. TD794.5 .S73 2010. Minn. Publication 10-0777.
Mandated by: Minn. Stat. 115A.15 Subd. 5(b)http://archive.leg.state.mn.us/docs/2010/mandated/100777.pdf
The Status of Women and Girls in Minnesota. Women's Foundation of Minnesota. June 2010. HQ798 .S734 2010.
Department of Human Rights Case Management Summary Report. Minn. Dept. of Human Rights. July 27, 2010. JC599.U62 M57 2010 Jan. - June. Minn. Publication 10-0776.
Mandated by: 1997 Minn. Laws Chap. 239 Art. 1 Sec. 15 Subd. 1http://www.humanrights.state.mn.us/about/pdf/rpt_legis_jun2010.pdf
"After the Bonding Bill" - the Next Steps. Minn. Management & Budget. March 29, 2010. HJ2053.M6 A38 2010. Minn. Publication 10-0789.
Novak, Kathy and Nina Manzi. Short Subjects: Economic Forecasts, Budget Surpluses, and Budget Shortfalls (Updated). House Research. August 2010. HN79.M6 S56 2010.
Third Order Amending Order of Commissioner of Finance Relating to Use and Sale of State Bond Financed Property. Minn. Management & Budget. August 26, 2010. JF1525.P7 T45 2010. Minn. Publication 10-0855.
Cancer Facts and Figures. American Cancer Society. 2010. Ref RC261.A1 A213 2010.
This reference book is available for use in the Library or it may be checked out for a short period of time.
Medical Assistance, General Assistance Medical Care, and MinnesotaCare Payments in Calendar Year. Minn. Dept. of Human Services. February 24, 2010. RA412.45.M6 M442 2009. Minn. Publication 10-0802.
Report to the Congress: Aligning Incentives in Medicare. Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. June 2010. RA412.3 .R47 2010.
No-Fault Insurance in Minnesota. Minn. Dept. of Commerce. February 2005. HG9970.35.M6 N64 2005. Minn. Publication 10-0786.
What You Need to Know: Auto Insurance. Minn. Dept. of Commerce. HG9970.35.M6 W43 2000. Minn. Publication 10-0787.
Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines and Commentary. Minn. Sentencing Guidelines Commission. August 1, 2010. KFM5983.2.M58 2010. Minn. Publication 10-0785.
Mandated by: Minn. Stat. 244.09 Subd. 5http://www.msgc.state.mn.us/guidelines/guide10.pdf
Wingerd, Mary Lethert. North Country: The Making of Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press. 2010. F606 .W56 2010.
The State We're In: Reflections on Minnesota History. Minn. Historical Society Press. 2010. F606 .S77 2010.
DWP Fifth and Twelfth Month Outcomes: Data for DWP Cohorts from July 2004 through May 2009. Minn. Dept. of Human Services. August 2010. HV98.M6 D593 2004/2009 July-Dec. Minn. Publication 10-0829.
Financial Audit Division: Metropolitan Mosquito Control District Financial Statement Audit. Office of the Legislative Auditor. August 19, 2010. HJ9865 .A27 no. 10-28. Minn. Publication 10-0847.
Investment Options: Minnesota Supplemental Investment Fund. Minn. State Board of Investment. July 1, 2010. HJ3835.M6 I58 2010. Minn. Publication 10-0798.
Mandated by: Minn. Stat. 11A.17 Subd. 11http://www.sbi.state.mn.us/publications/2010Prospectus.pdf
Minnesota Ballpark Authority Annual Report. Minn. Ballpark Authority. GV417.T37 M564 2009. Minn. Publication 10-0790.
Falkowski, Carol. Drug Abuse Trends: Minneapolis / St. Paul, Minnesota. Minn. Dept. of Human Services. June 2010. HV5831.M6 D77 2010 June. Minn. Publication 10-0801.
Property Tax Law Summary. Minn. Dept. of Revenue, Property Tax Division. June 2010. HJ4121.M6 S85 2010. Minn. Publication 10-0796.
Baker, Karen and Steve Hinze. Short Subjects: Minnesota's Green Acres Program and Other Property Tax Preference Programs for Rural Lands (Updated). House Research. July 2010. HN79.M6 S56 2010.
Michael, Joel. Short Subjects: Survey of State and Local Gasoline Taxes (Updated). House Research. July 2010. HN79.M6 S56 2010.
A Study of the Relationship Between Digital Billboards and Traffic Safety in Rochester, MN. The Foundation for Outdoor Advertising Research and Education. April 6, 2009. HF5843 .T36 2009.
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, Metropolitan Airports Commission. Metropolitan Airports Commission. HE9813.M6 M563 2009. Minn. Publication 10-0783.
Burress, Matt. Low-Power Vehicles (Updated). House Research. July 2010. KFM5697.75.L69 B87 2010. Minn. Publication 10-0791.
Annual Livable Communities Fund Distribution Plan. Metropolitan Council. April 14, 2010. HT168.T9 M49 2010. Minn. Publication 10-0784.
Mandated by: 1995 Minn. Laws Chap. 255 Art. 1 Sec. 1 (Minn. Stat. 473.25 (d))http://www.metrocouncil.org/services/livcomm/2010LCAFundDistributionPlan.pdf
Ixodes Scapularis Distribution Study Report (Deer Tick Distribution Study). Metropolitan Mosquito Control District. 2010. QL458.2 .I9 M48 2009. Minn. Publication 10-0778.