Information About the Data
The Washington Environmental Biomonitoring Survey (WEBS) was created in 2009 to increase biomonitoring capacity at the Public Health Laboratories and to find out what levels of environmental chemicals are in people's bodies.
During May 2010 – June 2011, WEBS staff visited a representative sample of households around Washington State. We collected:
- Urine samples from 1422 participants ages six and older,
- Tap water samples from 498 households,
- Questionnaire information that helps to explain potential exposure sources.
This dataset contains summary statistics for the urine results (tested for 15 environmental chemicals), tap water results (tested for six environmental chemicals) and questionnaire responses.
The urine sample results are available as raw and “creatinine-corrected” concentrations. “Creatinine-correction” is often used for comparing groups, because it accounts for natural fluctuations in the body's dilution of urine. We analyzed the urine samples for:
- Antimony
- Arsenic
- Barium
- Beryllium
- Cadmium
- Cesium
- Cobalt
- Lead
- Molybdenum
- Platinum
- Thallium
- Tungsten
- Uranium
- 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), a breakdown product of pyrethroid pesticides
- 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), a breakdown product of the pesticide chlorpyrifos
We analyzed the tap water samples for arsenic and lead.
The household questionnaire gathered information on household-level characteristics, like household income. The individual questionnaires were age-specific and gathered information like smoking status and recently eating certain foods.
We recruited participants to be representative of Washington State residents. To obtain the WEBS sample, we randomly selected communities (census tracts) across Washington; within selected communities, we randomly selected households. Then we asked all household members ages 6 and older to participate. Comparing demographic characteristics of the WEBS sample to the 2010 American Community Survey, we found no substantial differences. This means that the people who participated in WEBS were the same as the total population for characteristics such as age, race and ethnicity, and levels of education. The American Community Survey is an extension of the U.S. census that annually provides information on people living in Washington.
To ensure that WEBS results are comparable to national estimates, we used the same analytical chemistry and data analysis methods as CDC's Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals. Tap water data can be compared to regularly collected data on Group A water systems from the Office of Drinking Water at the Washington State Department of Health.
This dataset should be used to inform the general public, public health professionals and policymakers on exposure to environmental chemicals in Washington State. This information may lead to:
- Further investigation into local exposures.
- Awareness of how daily factors influence one's health.
- More effective methods of protecting the environment and public health.
Caveats
The WEBS sample is not representative of individual counties or any other sub-region; conclusions drawn from the data only apply to Washington State as a whole.
Suggested Citation
Washington Environmental Biomonitoring Survey (WEBS), 2010-2011. Last modified, April 23, 2013. Washington Department of Health, Washington Tracking Network.