Browsing by Author "Stewart, Lorraine"
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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.
- Harmonization of Human Biomonitoring Studies in Europe: Characteristics of the HBM4EU-Aligned Studies ParticipantsPublication . Gilles, Liese; Govarts, Eva; Rodriguez Martin, Laura; Andersson, Anna-Maria; Appenzeller, Brice M.R.; Barbone, Fabio; Castano, Argelia; Coertjens, Dries; Den Hond, Elly; Dzhedzheia, Vazha; Eržen, Ivan; Esteban, Marta; Fábelová, Lucia; Fillol, Clémence; Franken, Carmen; Frederiksen, Hanne; Gabriel, Catherine; Haug, Line Småstuen; Horvat, Milena; Halldórsson, Thórhallur Ingi; Janasik, Beata; Holcer, Nataša Janev; Kakucs, Réka; Karakitsios, Spyros; Katsonouri, Andromachi; Klánová, Jana; Kold-Jensen, Tina; Kolossa-Gehring, Marike; Konstantinou, Corina; Koponen, Jani; Lignell, Sanna; Lindroos, Anna Karin; Makris, Konstantinos C.; Mazej, Darja; Morrens, Bert; Murínová, Ľubica Palkovičová; Namorado, Sónia; Pedraza-Diaz, Susana; Peisker, Jasmin; Probst-Hensch, Nicole; Rambaud, Loïc; Rosolen, Valentina; Rucic, Enrico; Rüther, Maria; Sarigiannis, Dimosthenis; Tratnik, Janja Snoj; Standaert, Arnout; Stewart, Lorraine; Szigeti, Tamás; Thomsen, Cathrine; Tolonen, Hanna; Eiríksdóttir, Ása; Van Nieuwenhuyse, An; Verheyen, Veerle J.; Vlaanderen, Jelle; Vogel, Nina; Wasowicz, Wojciech; Weber, Till; Zock, Jan-Paul; Sepai, Ovnair; Schoeters, GreetHuman biomonitoring has become a pivotal tool for supporting chemicals’ policies. It provides information on real-life human exposures and is increasingly used to prioritize chemicals of health concern and to evaluate the success of chemical policies. Europe has launched the ambitious REACH program in 2007 to improve the protection of human health and the environment. In October 2020 the EU commission published its new chemicals strategy for sustainability towards a toxic-free environment. The European Parliament called upon the commission to collect human biomonitoring data to support chemical’s risk assessment and risk management. This manuscript describes the organization of the first HBM4EU-aligned studies that obtain comparable human biomonitoring (HBM) data of European citizens to monitor their internal exposure to environmental chemicals. The HBM4EU-aligned studies build on existing HBM capacity in Europe by aligning national or regional HBM studies. The HBM4EU-aligned studies focus on three age groups: children, teenagers, and adults. The participants are recruited between 2014 and 2021 in 11 to 12 primary sampling units that are geographically distributed across Europe. Urine samples are collected in all age groups, and blood samples are collected in children and teenagers. Auxiliary information on sociodemographics, lifestyle, health status, environment, and diet is collected using questionnaires. In total, biological samples from 3137 children aged 6–12 years are collected for the analysis of biomarkers for phthalates, HEXAMOLL® DINCH, and flame retardants. Samples from 2950 teenagers aged 12–18 years are collected for the analysis of biomarkers for phthalates, Hexamoll® DINCH, and per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), and samples from 3522 adults aged 20–39 years are collected for the analysis of cadmium, bisphenols, and metabolites of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The children’s group consists of 50.4% boys and 49.5% girls, of which 44.1% live in cities, 29.0% live in towns/suburbs, and 26.8% live in rural areas. The teenagers’ group includes 50.6% girls and 49.4% boys, with 37.7% of residents in cities, 31.2% in towns/suburbs, and 30.2% in rural areas. The adult group consists of 52.6% women and 47.4% men, 71.9% live in cities, 14.2% in towns/suburbs, and only 13.4% live in rural areas. The study population approaches the characteristics of the general European population based on age-matched EUROSTAT EU-28, 2017 data; however, individuals who obtained no to lower educational level (ISCED 0–2) are under represented. The data on internal human exposure to priority chemicals from this unique cohort will provide a baseline for Europe’s strategy towards a non-toxic environment and challenges and recommendations to improve the sampling frame for future EU-wide HBM surveys are discussed.
- Harmonized human biomonitoring in European children, teenagers and adults: EU-wide exposure data of 11 chemical substance groups from the HBM4EU Aligned Studies (2014-2021)Publication . Govarts, Eva; Gilles, Liese; Rodriguez Martin, Laura; Santonen, Tiina; Apel, Petra; Alvito, Paula; Anastasi, Elena; Andersen, Helle Raun; Andersson, Anna-Maria; Andryskova, Lenka; ANTIGNAC, Jean-Philippe; Rüther, Maria; Sarigiannis, Denis; Silva, Maria João; Šlejkovec, Zdenka; Snoj Tratnik, Janja; Stajnko, Anja; Szigeti, Tamas; Tarazona, Jose; Thomsen, Cathrine; Tkalec, Žiga; Trnovec, Tomas; Tolonen, Hanna; Uhl, Maria; Van Nieuwenhuyse, An; Vasco, Elsa; Verheyen, Veerle J.; Viegas, Susana; Vinggaard, Anne Marie; Vogel, Nina; Vorkamp, Katrin; Wasowicz, Wojciech; Wimmerova, Sona; Weber, Till; Woutersen, Marjolijn; Zimmermann, Philipp; Zvonar, Martin; Koch, Holger; Kolossa-Gehring, Marike; Esteban López, Marta; Castano, Argelia; Stewart, Lorraine; Sepai, Ovnair; Appenzeller, Brice; Schoeters, Greta; Barbone, Fabio; Barnett-Itzhaki, Zohar; Barouki, Robert; Berman, Tamar; Bil, Wieneke; Borges, Teresa; Buekers, Jurgen; Cañas-Portilla, Ana; Covaci, Adrian; Csako, Zsofia; Den Hond, Elly; Dvorakova, Darina; Fabelova, Lucia; Fletcher, Tony; Frederiksen, Hanne; Gabriel, Catherine; Ganzleben, Catherine; Göen, Thomas; Halldorsson, Thorhallur; Haug, Line Småstuen; Horvat, Milena; Huuskonen, Pasi; Imboden, Medea; Jagodic Hudobivnik, Marta; Janasik, Beata; Janev Holcer, Natasa; Karakitsios, Spyros; Katsonouri, Andromachi; Klanova, Jana; Kokaraki, Venetia; Kold Jensen, Tina; Koponen, Jani; Laeremans, Michelle; Laguzzi, Federica; Lange, Rosa; Lemke, Nora; Lignell, Sanna; Lindroos, Anna Karin; Lobo Vicente, Joana; Luijten, Mirjam; Makris, Konstantinos C.; Mazej, Darja; Melymuk, Lisa; Meslin, Matthieu; Mol, Hans; Montazeri, Parisa; Murawski, Aline; Namorado, Sónia; Niemann, Lars; Nübler, Stefanie; Nunes, Baltazar; Olafsdottir, Kristin; Palkovicova Murinova, Lubica; Papaioannou, Nafsika; Pedraza-Diaz, Susana; Piler, Pavel; Plichta, Veronika; Poteser, Michael; Probst-Hensch, Nicole; Rambaud, Loic; Rauscher-Gabernig, Elke; Rausova, Katarina; Remy, Sylvie; Riou, Margaux; Rosolen, Valentina; Rousselle, ChristopheAbstract: As one of the core elements of the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) a human biomonitoring (HBM) survey was conducted in 23 countries to generate EU-wide comparable HBM data. This survey has built on existing HBM capacity in Europe by aligning national or regional HBM studies, referred to as the HBM4EU Aligned Studies. The HBM4EU Aligned Studies included a total of 10,795 participants of three age groups: (i) 3,576 children aged 6–12 years, (ii) 3,117 teenagers aged 12–18 years and (iii) 4,102 young adults aged 20–39 years. The participants were recruited between 2014 and 2021 in 11–12 countries per age group, geographically distributed across Europe. Depending on the age group, internal exposure to phthalates and the substitute DINCH, halogenated and organophosphorus flame retardants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), cadmium, bisphenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), arsenic species, acrylamide, mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol (total DON)), benzophenones and selected pesticides was assessed by measuring substance specific biomarkers subjected to stringent quality control programs for chemical analysis. For substance groups analyzed in different age groups higher average exposure levels were observed in the youngest age group, i.e., phthalates/DINCH in children versus teenagers, acrylamide and pesticides in children versus adults, benzophenones in teenagers versus adults. Many biomarkers in teenagers and adults varied significantly according to educational attainment, with higher exposure levels of bisphenols, phthalates, benzophenones, PAHs and acrylamide in participants (from households) with lower educational attainment, while teenagers from households with higher educational attainment have higher exposure levels for PFASs and arsenic. In children, a social gradient was only observed for the non-specific pyrethroid metabolite 3-PBA and di-isodecyl phthalate (DiDP), with higher levels in children from households with higher educational attainment. Geographical variations were seen for all exposure biomarkers. For 15 biomarkers, the available health-based HBM guidance values were exceeded with highest exceedance rates for toxicologically relevant arsenic in teenagers (40%), 3-PBA in children (36%), and between 11 and 14% for total DON, Σ (PFOA + PFNA + PFHxS + PFOS), bisphenol S and cadmium. The infrastructure and harmonized approach succeeded in obtaining comparable European wide internal exposure data for a prioritized set of 11 chemical groups. These data serve as a reference for comparison at the global level, provide a baseline to compare the efficacy of the European Commission's chemical strategy for sustainability and will give leverage to national policy makers for the implementation of targeted measures.