Browsing by Author "Lebret, Erik"
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- Application of human biomonitoring data to support policy development, raise awareness and environmental public health protection among countries within the HBM4EU projectPublication . Ubong, Dorothy; Stewart, Lorraine; Sepai, Ovnair; Knudsen, Lisbeth E.; Berman, Tamar; Reynders, Hans; Van Campenhout, Karen; Katsonouri, Andromachi; Van Nieuwenhuyse, An; Ingelido, Anna Maria; Castaño, Argelia; Pedraza-Díaz, Susana; Eiríksdóttir, Ása Valgerður; Thomsen, Cathrine; Hartmann, Christina; Gjorgjev, Dragan; De Felip, Elena; Tolonen, Hanna; Santonen, Tiina; klanova, Jana; Norström, Karin; Kononenko, Lijana; Silva, Maria João; Uhl, Maria; Kolossa-Gehring, Marike; Apel, Petra; Jõemaa, Merli; Jajcaj, Michal; Estokova, Milada; Luijten, Mirjam; Lebret, Erik; von Goetz, Natalie; Holcer, Natasa Janev; Probst-Hensch, Nicole; Cavaleiro, Rita; Barouki, Robert; Tarroja, Elena; Balčienė, Rosita Marija; Strumylaite, Loreta; Latvala, Siiri; Namorado, Sónia; Szigeti, Tamás; Ingi Halldorsson, Thorhallur; Olafsdottir, Kristin; Wasowicz, Wojciech; Viegas, Susana; Alvito, PaulaMost countries have acknowledged the importance of assessing and quantifying their population’s internal exposure from chemicals in air, water, soil, food and other consumer products due to the potential health and economic impact. Human biomonitoring (HBM) is a valuable tool which can be used to quantify such exposures and effects. Results from HBM studies can also contribute to improving public health by providing evidence of individuals’ internal chemical exposure as well as data to understand the burden of disease and associated costs thereby stimulating the development and implementation of evidence-based policy. To have a holistic view on HBM data utilisation, a multi-case research approach was used to explore the use of HBM data to support national chemical regulations, protect public health and raise awareness among countries participating in the HBM4EU project. The Human Biomonitoring for Europe (HBM4EU) Initiative (https://www.hbm4eu.eu/) is a collaborative effort involving 30 countries, the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Commission (contracting authority) to harmonise procedures across Europe and advance research into the understanding of the health impacts of environmental chemical exposure. One of the aims of the project was to use HBM data to support evidence based chemical policy and make this information timely and directly available for policy makers and all partners. The main data source for this article was the narratives collected from 27 countries within the HBM4EU project. The countries (self-selection) were grouped into 3 categories in terms of HBM data usage either for public awareness, policy support or for the establishment HBM programme. Narratives were analysed/summarised using guidelines and templates that focused on ministries involved in or advocating for HBM; steps required to engage policy makers; barriers, drivers and opportunities in developing a HBM programme. The narratives reported the use of HBM data either for raising awareness or addressing environmental/public health issues and policy development. The ministries of Health and Environment were reported to be the most prominent entities advocating for HBM, the involvement of several authorities/institutions in the national hubs was also cited to create an avenue to interact, discuss and gain the attention of policy makers. Participating in European projects and the general population interest in HBM studies were seen as drivers and opportunities in developing HBM programmes. A key barrier that was cited by countries for establishing and sustaining national HBM programmes was funding which is mainly due to the high costs associated with the collection and chemical analysis of human samples. Although challenges and barriers still exist, most countries within Europe were already conversant with the benefits and opportunities of HBM. This article offers important insights into factors associated with the utilisation of HBM data for policy support and public awareness.
- A case study on occupational exposure to Chromium (VI), Nickel, PAH mixtures and lung cancer.Publication . Silva, Maria João; Louro, Henriqueta; Viegas, Susana; Gomes, Bruno Costa; Santonen, Tiina; Kortenkamp, Andreas; Lebret, ErikBackground: In several industries, e.g., aircrafts maintenance, workers are co-exposed to a range of hazardous substances, including hexavalent chromium [Cr (VI)], nickel (Ni) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Each of these compounds can cause serious health effects, including lung cancer. However, the association between exposure and health outcome has not been analysed from a mixture perspective, i.e., considering the potential interactive effects of those substances as determinants of lung cancer. Here we present the development of a case study on occupational exposure to Cr (VI), Ni and PAHs to advance the identification of mixture health effects and to progress towards a more refined risk assessment. Methods: A tiered framework is applied that includes a first step of collection of relevant hazard (e.g., genotoxicity) and exposure information gathered from literature or from HBM4EU databases on occupational cohorts. Then, this information will be used to construct hazard quotients derived from relevant occupational exposure limits for Cr (VI), Ni and PAHs, followed by the determination of the Hazard Index (HI). Results: The estimations based on available literature search will be presented and discussed, keeping the perspective of its contribution to generate directions for the exposure, hazard, and risk assessments. In addition, the biomonitoring levels of Cr (VI) and Ni and the data on external levels of PAHs produced in the chromate occupational exposure study, will allow a refinement of the exposure assessment, comparatively to the literature-based results obtained. Conclusions: It is anticipated that the assessment of the risk from occupational co-exposure to Cr(VI), Ni and PAHs - based on data obtained from a EU-wide harmonised study - will add on building a framework for mixtures risk assessment, that can be further applied for substances to which co-exposure occurs or/and are expected to produce similar health outcomes.
- Plan for development of case studies - Deliverable Report AD 15.1 WP 15 - Mixtures, HBM and human health riskPublication . Kortemkamp, Andreas; Mengelers, Marcel; Vinggaard, Anne Marie; Silva, Maria João; Slamay, Remy; Vermeulen, Roel; Vlaanderen, Jelle; Ottenbros, Ilse; Viegas, Susana; Gomes, Bruno Costa; Louro, Henriqueta; Lebret, ErikThis deliverable describes the activities in task 15.3 leading up to the development of cases studies for mixture health effects and outlines the proposed case studies. The proposed case studies are: · Developmental neurotoxicity beyond polybrominated diphenylethers · Heavy metals and nephrotoxicity · Anti-androgenic chemicals and male reproductive health · Chromium (VI), nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and lung cancer · Addressing exposure misclassification in mixture studies The Addendum provides further details about multi-year perspective and timing, as well as detailed budgetary aspects per case study.