Biological contaminants of emerging concern (BioCECs) are biological agents, such as pathogens and other microorganisms, that may pose risks to human, animal, or environmental health but are not yet fully understood, regulated, or routinely monitored. As environmental conditions and scientific understanding evolve, new biological contaminants continue to emerge, creating challenges for public health and environmental professionals.
The Biological Contaminants of Emerging Concern (BioCEC, 2025) guidance document is intended for public health and environmental professionals and is rooted in the “One Health” framework. It builds upon the Contaminants of Emerging Concern Framework (CEC, 2023) and is meant to provide guidance for states to identify and evaluate the broad range of contaminants and pathogens covered by the term BioCEC.
Biological contaminants of emerging concern are diverse, and the risks they pose are varied. It is important to note that this guidance is not comprehensive and will not identify specific risks. This guidance can, however, aid entities as they assess the risk for their unique circumstances. The scope of this guidance is driven in part by the ITRC team’s capacity and the expertise of the team members/volunteers.
Topic(s): Contaminants of Emerging Concern, Human Health, Risk Assessment
