APPLICATION OF BIOLOGIC MARKERS TO STUDIES OF ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS IN CHILDREN AND THE DEVELOPING FETUS

Young children and the developing fetus may be more susceptible to eff ects of environmental toxicants than adults due to differential exposu re patterns and developmental immaturities. Biologic markers offer the potential of quantitative dosimeters of biologic dose and/or indices of biologic effect associated with fetal/childhood exposures. They can facilitate evaluation of interindividual variability in response and the magnitude of age-related susceptibilities. Thus far, biologic mark ers have not been widely used in developmental epidemiology of environ mental exposures. Research by our group and others has seen elevations in biologic markers in samples from children and fetal tissue associa ted with a spectrum of environmental exposures, including tobacco smok e (active and passive), ambient pollution. and dietary contaminants. S tudies also suggest that biologic markers can provide powerful dosimet ers for investigating reproductive effects. Validation of biologic mar kers offering the greatest promise for developmental epidemiology is n eeded.