Tens of thousands of synthetic chemicals migrate from industrial processes and consumer products to become part of the dust in air currents, the sediments in watersheds, and the particles in soil. They move into our bodies as we inhale, drink, or touch. There is no part of the biosphere where toxic chemicals have not penetrated all forms of life.

Body burden assessments, or biomonitoring, involves measuring the presence of synthetic chemicals in blood, urine, breastmilk, adipose tissue, hair, and saliva. When people know that that they carry chemicals that reduce fertility, increase learning disabilities, cause cancer, contribute to obesity, disrupt the immune system, and more, this knowledge becomes a potent force for chemical policy reform.

For more than 20 years, Commonweal's Biomonitoring Resource Center is engaged in projects that further the understanding of toxic chemicals in the human body and in the environment. By documenting the ubiquity and complexity of exposures in human bodies, air, water, and consumer products, we shine a spotlight on the failures of current chemical regulations. Moving toward green chemistry and ensuring that harmful chemicals are managed throughout their lifecycle in ways that truly protect the environment and the health of all living beings is central to creating a healthy and sustainable world.