Biomonitoring NY - Neighborhoods

people waiting, man getting blood drawn, farmers market

New York State Department of Health will host health clinics and educational events in Albany, Buffalo, Poughkeepsie, Rochester, Ellenville, rural Mohawk Valley, rural St. Lawrence County, Syracuse, and Utica as part of Biomonitoring NY - Neighborhoods.

Biomonitoring NY – Neighborhoods is focused on New York State rural and urban communities that were underrepresented in our previous Biomonitoring NY efforts. The Department is partnering with community groups to host local events that help residents learn more about chemicals in their bodies and how to reduce exposure to harmful substances like PFAS, pesticides, and heavy metals. Biomonitoring NY - Neighborhoods is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Biomonitoring NY - Neighborhoods Communities

map of focus area

Who can Participate in Biomonitoring NY - Neighborhoods?

If you wish to participate, you can attend a Biomonitoring NY - Neighborhoods event in your community. Health Department staff will be available to share information about chemicals in the home and environment and how you can reduce your exposure. Adult participants will also have the option to have their blood and urine tested for environmental chemicals and metals.

Events will be advertised by the Department and community partners. People who do not wish to provide blood and urine testing are still encouraged to attend events to learn more about environmental contaminants and how to reduce health risks.

Health Clinics Events

Adult participants will have the option to have their blood and urine tested for environmental chemicals and metals.

EllenWell Community Wellness Fair

August 30, 2025, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Trudy Farber Center, 50 Center Street, Ellenville, NY

People who wish to have their blood and urine tested:

  • Must be at least 20 years old.
  • Must complete a consent form and fill out a participant survey about themselves and their household.
  • May eat food prior to testing You do not need to fast.
  • Will provide blood and urine samples, which will be tested for PFAS, pesticides, and metals.
  • Will receive their testing results as well as group-level results for the project. Results will be reported in a confidential manner; you will not be able to be identified.
  • Will receive a gift card.

We will not test for medication or drug use or analyze DNA or genes.

Blood samples collected at clinics will be tested for 11 PFAS, and metals such as cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, manganese, mercury, and selenium. Urine samples will be tested for pesticides; organophosphates, phenoxy acids, and pyrethroids, and metals (arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, cesium, chromium, cobalt, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, platinum, selenium, tin, thallium, tungsten, and uranium).

  • PFAS are a large group of man-made chemicals that have been used in a wide range of industries. They can be found in consumer products such as food packaging, stain and water repellents, cleaning products, personal care products and paints; as well as in firefighting foam. PFAS are widely found in the environment and can stay in the human body for years.
  • Pesticides are substances used to kill, repel, or control pests such as unwanted plants or animals. Pesticides include herbicides for destroying weeds and other unwanted vegetation. Insecticides are used to control insects, and fungicides are used to prevent the growth of molds and mildew. Because of the widespread use of agricultural chemicals in food production, people are exposed to low levels of pesticide residues through their diets.
  • Heavy metals such as mercury, lead and cadmium are linked to harmful health effects. They can build up in the body as a result of industrial exposure, air or water pollution, food, improperly coated food containers, or by ingesting lead-based paints.

How Will Participants Get Their Results?

Blood and urine test results will be shared with participants after they are analyzed by the New York State Department of Health’s Wadsworth Center Laboratory. It may take several months for participants to receive results due to the number of chemicals and metals being tested in each sample. We recommend that participants discuss their biomonitoring results and individual health concerns with their health care providers. Group-level results will also be presented in scientific publications, reports, and presentations. Confidentiality is protected so that individual participants cannot be identified.

Community Partners Wanted

The State Department of Health is seeking community partners to help host and advertise Biomonitoring NY - Neighborhoods events. Funding is available to support partner organizations and activities that help further this project. Ideal partners are organizations who are already providing education or services to adults in their communities.

Email beoe@health.ny.gov if your organization is interested in partnering with us to:

  • Help advertise or promote events in your area.
  • Help host a community environmental education and clinic event.
  • Join the Biomonitoring NY Advisory Committee.

More Information

Please contact the Biomonitoring NY Project Coordinator: Phone 518-402-7950, Email  BEOE@health.ny.gov