People can check environmental hormone levels in their body through bio-monitoring

A biomonitoring citizen forum is held at the Yeosu Youth Training Center in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, on Dec. 7, last year. Courtesy of the Korea Institute of Labor, Environment and Health

Ms. Jang Won-jung (41), a mother of four and 10-year-old children suffering from an atopic skin disease, feels heartbroken whenever she sees her children's rough skin. She has been to a hospital specializing in atopic dermatitis but could not find a clear solution. She suspected that environmental pollution and environmental hormones were the cause. "I thought that invisible things could have a big impact on me and my children's bodies," Jang said in a phone interview on April 18. "I wanted to check this with data and find out what I could do." Jang participated in the bio-monitoring project this year.

With the growing awareness of environmental pollution, interest in fields, such as bio-monitoring, is increasing. Bio-monitoring refers to the measurement of harmful chemicals, including environmental hormones, in human body fluids through blood and urine tests.

The Labor and Environmental Health Research Center at Wonjin Green Hospital has been conducting a “bio-monitoring project with citizens” targeting households with elementary school children since last year. Applications for participation were received through civic groups and participation is free of charge. The number of participating households nearly doubled from 28 last year to 48 this year.

Fifty-two kinds of environmental hormones, including 11 phthalate metabolites and 17 perfluorinated compounds, are the main subjects of analysis. Park Eun-jung, head of the Labor and Environmental Health Research Center, said, “The center is popular among people who are interested in environmental issues, such as exposure to heavy metals, or parents with young children suffering from atopic dermatitis.”

The first test was conducted for four days from April 2. Participants collected their urine every day during the test. Their blood was collected once. Dust in their home was also collected and submitted as a sample. After the monitoring, the participants voluntarily follow the guidelines to improve their lifestyle and will be tested again in August.

"I’ve been told that the food I eat every day has an absolute impact on environmental hormones in the body, so I've been cutting down on instant food," Jang said after the monitoring. "I am trying to practice it steadily rather than expecting to feel changes right away."

Last year's participant Kim Tae-jung, said, "I thought my environmental hormone levels would be good because I lived in a suburban area for 10 years, but I was surprised that they were higher than I thought. I think it was a good opportunity for our children to realize that plastic is bad.“

※This article has undergone review by a professional translator after being translated by an AI translation tool.