Browsing by Author "Jacobsen, Eva"
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Cadmium exposure in adults across Europe: Results from the HBM4EU Aligned Studies survey 2014-2020Publication . Snoj Tratnik, Janja; Kocman, David; Horvat, Milena; Andersson, Anna-Maria; Juul, Anders; Jacobsen, Eva; Olafsdottir, Kristin; Klanova, Jana; Andryskova, Lenka; Janasik, Beata; Wasowicz, Wojciech; Janev Holcer, Natasa; Namorado, Sónia; Coelho, Inês; Rambaud, Loic; Riou, Margaux; Van Nieuwenhuyse, An; Appenzeller, Brice; Kolossa-Gehring, Marike; Weber, Till; Esteban, Marta; Castano, Argelia; Gilles, Liese; Rodriguez Martin, Laura; Schoeters, Greta; Sepai, Ovnair; Govarts, EvaThe objectives of the study were to estimate the current exposure to cadmium (Cd) in Europe, potential differences between the countries and geographic regions, determinants of exposure and to derive European exposure levels. The basis for this work was provided by the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) which established a framework for alignment of national or regional HBM studies. For the purpose of Cd exposure assessment, studies from 9 European countries (Iceland, Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic, Croatia, Portugal, Germany, France, Luxembourg) were included and urine of 20–39 years old adults sampled in the years 2014–2021 (n = 2510). The measurements in urine were quality assured by the HBM4EU quality assurance/quality control scheme, study participants' questionnaire data were post-harmonized. Spatially resolved external data, namely Cd concentrations in soil, agricultural areas, phosphate fertilizer application, traffic density and point source Cd release were collected for the respective statistical territorial unit (NUTS). There were no distinct geographic patterns observed in Cd levels in urine, although the data revealed some differences between the specific study sites. The levels of exposure were otherwise similar between two time periods within the last decade (DEMOCOPHES - 2011–2012 vs. HBM4EU Aligned Studies, 2014–2020). The age-dependent alert values for Cd in urine were exceeded by 16% of the study participants. Exceedances in the different studies and locations ranged from 1.4% up to 42%. The studies with largest extent of exceedance were from France and Poland. Association analysis with individual food consumption data available from participants’ questionnaires showed an important contribution of vegetarian diet to the overall exposure, with 35% higher levels in vegetarians as opposed to non-vegetarians. For comparison, increase in Cd levels due to smoking was 25%. Using NUTS2-level external data, positive associations between HBM data and percentage of cropland and consumption of Cd-containing mineral phosphate fertilizer were revealed, which indicates a significant contribution of mineral phosphate fertilizers to human Cd exposure through diet. In addition to diet, traffic and point source release were identified as significant sources of exposure in the study population. The findings of the study support the recommendation by EFSA to reduce Cd exposure as also the estimated mean dietary exposure of adults in the EU is close or slightly exceeding the tolerable weekly intake. It also indicates that regulations are not protecting the population sufficiently.
- HBM4EU-MOM: intervene to raise awareness to specific dietary recommendations and reduceprenatal mercury exposurePublication . Namorado, Sónia; Assunção, Ricardo; Santiago, Susana; Esteban López, Marta; Dominguez Morueco, Noelia; Ingi Halldórsson, Þórhallur; Jacobsen, Eva; Gabriel, Catherine; Karakitsios, Spyros; Giannadaki, Despina; Xatjipanagi, Adamos; Anastasi, Elena; Thoma, Chrysanthi; Snoj Tratnik, Janja; Horvat, Milena; Sarigiannis, Denis; Katsonouri, AndromachiBACKGROUND AND AIM:Mercury and its compounds are toxic and are among the substances of higher concern globally.Toxicity depends on mercury compounds, route of exposure and duration. The European population is mostly exposed to organic mercury (methylmercury) due to fish consumption; while exposure to inorganic and elemental mercury is largely associated with dental amalgams, accidental spills of elemental mercury and food produced in contaminated sites. Previous studies have shown that mercury levels in European population are higher in countries with higher fish consumption.However, because of the beneficial nutrients they provide, fish are an essential component of the human diet. In order to reduce exposure and avoid adverse health effects, it is extremely important to balance the risks and benefits of eating fish,especially in vulnerable groups such as pregnant women. Most European countries do not have official guidelines for the consumption of fish during pregnancy, and even if these guidelines exist, they are often not communicated to pregnant women in an appropriate way. As such, under the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) an intervention study – HBM4EU-MOM – is being developed in five European countries with high fish consumption (Cyprus, Greece, Iceland, Portugal, Spain) to help reduce prenatal exposure to mercury,while ensuring the nutritional benefits of fish by developing and raising awareness to specific recommendations for fish consumption during pregnancy. METHODS:This presentation will highlight the work already performed, including the harmonized development of the intervention and support materials to be implemented in the five countries. RESULTS:Preliminary results on the implementation of the developed intervention and its evaluation using Human Biomonitoring will also be presented. CONCLUSIONS:This study's results will support the definition of policies to protect human health in vulnerable populations. HBM4EU has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 733032.
- HBM4EU-MOM: Prenatal methylmercury-exposure control in five countries through suitable dietary advice for pregnancy – Study design and characteristics of participantsPublication . Katsonouri, Andromachi; Gabriel, Catherine; Esteban López, Marta; Namorado, Sónia; Halldorsson, Thorhallur; Snoj Tratnik, Janja; Rodriguez Martin, Laura; Karakoltzidis, Achilleas; Chatzimpaloglou, Anthoula; Giannadaki, Despina; Anastasi, Elena; Thoma, Anthi; Domínguez-Morueco, Noelia; Cañas, Ana; Jacobsen, Eva; Assunção, Ricardo; Peres, Maria; Santiago, Susana; Nunes, Carla; Pedraza-Diaz, Susana; Iavicoli, Ivo; Leso, Veruscka; Lacasaña, Marina; González-Alzaga, Beatriz; Horvat, Milena; Sepai, Ovnair; Castano, Argelia; Kolossa-Gehring, Marike; Karakitsios, Spyros; Sarigiannis, DimosthenisBackground: Seafood is a major source of vital nutrients for optimal fetal growth, but at the same time is the main source of exposure to methylmercury (MeHg), an established neurodevelopmental toxicant. Pregnant women must be provided with dietary advice so as to include safely fish in their diet for nutrition and mercury control. The aim of this work is to present the design of a multicentre randomized control trial (RCT), which combines human biomonitoring (HBM) with dietary interventions using seafood consumption advice to pregnant women for MeHg control, and to collect information about other possible sources of exposure to mercury. It also presents the materials developed for the implementation of the study and the characteristics of the study participants, which were self-reported in the first trimester of pregnancy. Methods: The "HBM4EU-MOM" RCT was performed in the frame of the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) in five coastal, high fish-consuming European countries (Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Portugal and Iceland). According to the study design, pregnant women (≥120/country, ≤20 weeks gestational age) provided a hair sample for total mercury assessment (THg) and personal information relevant to the study (e.g., lifestyle, pregnancy status, diet before and during the pregnancy, information on seafood and factors related to possible non-dietary exposures to mercury) during the first trimester of pregnancy. After sampling, participants were randomly assigned to "control" (habitual practices) or "intervention" (received the harmonized HBM4EU-MOM dietary advice for fish consumption during the pregnancy and were encouraged to follow it). Around child delivery, participants provided a second hair sample and completed another tailored questionnaire. Results: A total of 654 women aged 18-45 years were recruited in 2021 in the five countries, primarily through their health-care providers. The pre-pregnancy BMI of the participants ranged from underweight to obese, but was on average within the healthy range. For 73% of the women, the pregnancy was planned. 26% of the women were active smokers before the pregnancy and 8% continued to smoke during the pregnancy, while 33% were passive smokers before pregnancy and 23% remained passively exposed during the pregnancy. 53% of the women self-reported making dietary changes for their pregnancy, with 74% of these women reporting making the changes upon learning of their pregnancy. Of the 43% who did not change their diet for the pregnancy, 74% reported that their diet was already balanced, 6% found it difficult to make changes and 2% were unsure of what changes to make. Seafood consumption did not change significantly before and during the first trimester of pregnancy (overall average ∼8 times per month), with the highest frequency reported in Portugal (≥15 times per month), followed by Spain (≥7 times per month). During the first-trimester of pregnancy, 89% of the Portuguese women, 85% of the Spanish women and <50% of Greek, Cypriot and Icelandic women reported that they had consumed big oily fish. Relevant to non-dietary exposure sources, most participants (>90%) were unaware of safe procedures for handling spillage from broken thermometers and energy-saving lamps, though >22% experienced such an incident (>1 year ago). 26% of the women had dental amalgams. ∼1% had amalgams placed and ∼2% had amalgams removed during peri-pregnancy. 28% had their hair dyed in the past 3 months and 40% had body tattoos. 8% engaged with gardening involving fertilizers/pesticides and 19% with hobbies involving paints/pigments/dyes. Conclusions: The study design materials were fit for the purposes of harmonization and quality-assurance. The harmonized information collected from pregnant women suggests that it is important to raise the awareness of women of reproductive age and pregnant women about how to safely include fish in their diet and to empower them to make proper decisions for nutrition and control of MeHg, as well as other chemical exposures.