Integration of human biomonitoring exposure data into risk assessment: HESI initiatives and perspectives

The International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI) established a Biomonitoring Technical Committee in 2002 to define and characterize appropriate scientific use(s) of biomonitoring tools and/or biomonitoring data needed to characterize exposure to chemicals, and to explore mechanisms for integrating biomonitoring exposure data and toxicology data into a robust risk assessment process. This paper summarizes the Technical Committee's initiatives and perspectives on improving the quality, value, application, and interpretation of human biomonitoring data for exposure and risk assessment purposes. Scientific outreach, collaborative partners, and new projects are described.