Across Iowa, a growing number of reports are raising questions about environmental exposure and public health.
Recent analyses point to a combination of factors—including pesticides, nitrate contamination, PFAS (“forever chemicals”), and radon—as potential contributors to the state’s rising cancer rates. Iowa is now among the few states where cancer incidence is increasing, with rates exceeding the national average and affecting both rural and urban communities.
These findings have sparked important conversations—but they also highlight a critical gap:
We often talk about environmental risk—but rarely measure what’s actually in the body.
Environmental data—such as water quality testing or pesticide application rates—can provide valuable insights. However, they do not reveal how much of these compounds are actually entering the human body.
Exposure is highly individual. It varies based on:
Without direct measurement, exposure remains an assumption.
To address this gap, State Representative Jeff Shipley and the Committee for Peace and Prosperity have partnered with the Health Research Institute (HRI) to launch a new Iowa-based research initiative focused on real-world pesticide exposure.
Led by Dr. John Fagan, the study uses advanced LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry) to detect pesticides and their metabolites in human biological samples.
Key features of the study include:
Longitudinal design
Participants provide three samples over one year, enabling analysis of seasonal exposure patterns.
Non-invasive sampling
Urine-based testing is used to detect pesticide metabolites.
Diverse participant pool
Participants include agricultural workers, residents near treated landscapes, and individuals across rural, suburban, and urban communities.
This approach moves beyond assumptions and begins to answer a critical question:
How much exposure is actually occurring—and when?
Pesticide exposure is not static.
Levels may rise during:
…and decline during off-seasons.
By tracking exposure over time, the study aims to identify:
This type of longitudinal biomonitoring is rarely conducted at this scale—and is essential for understanding real-world risk.
Public concern around environmental exposure in Iowa continues to grow.
Recent reporting highlights:
At the same time, researchers emphasize that cancer is complex and cannot be attributed to a single cause.
This underscores the need for independent, high-quality measurement—not speculation.
The Iowa Exposure Study represents a shift toward:
By generating real human data, the study can help inform:
While large-scale studies are essential, exposure is ultimately personal.
Two individuals living in the same region may experience very different exposure levels based on daily habits, occupation, and environment.
That’s why biomonitoring plays a critical role—not only in research, but also in individual awareness.
HRI offers validated laboratory testing for pesticide exposure using multi-residue panels (PMR), and environmental contaminants in water and biological samples.
For targeted analysis, Glyphosate & AMPA testing is also available.
These tools make exposure measurable—providing real data instead of assumption.
The Iowa Exposure Study represents an important step toward understanding how environmental factors translate into real human exposure.
As conversations around agriculture, water quality, and public health continue, one thing is clear:
Better data leads to better decisions.
At HRI, we specialize in measuring real-world exposure through validated laboratory testing.
If you’re interested in understanding your own exposure, explore our testing services →
