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  • HBM4EU Chromates Study - Genotoxicity and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Workers Exposed to Hexavalent Chromium
    Publication . Tavares, Ana; Aimonen, Kukka; Ndaw, Sophie; Fučić, Aleksandra; Catalán, Julia; Duca, Radu Corneliu; Godderis, Lode; Gomes, Bruno C.; Janasik, Beata; Ladeira, Carina; Louro, Henriqueta; Namorado, Sónia; Nieuwenhuyse, An Van; Norppa, Hannu; Scheepers, Paul; Ventura, Célia; Verdonck, Jelle; Viegas, Susana; Wasowicz, Wojciech; Santonen, Tiina; Silva, M.J.; on behalf of the HBM4EU Chromates Study Team
    A study was conducted within the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) to characterize occupational exposure to Cr(VI). Herein we present the results of biomarkers of genotoxicity and oxidative stress, including micronucleus analysis in lymphocytes and reticulocytes, the comet assay in whole blood, and malondialdehyde and 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine in urine. Workers from several Cr(VI)-related industrial activities and controls from industrial (within company) and non-industrial (outwith company) environments were included. The significantly increased genotoxicity (p = 0.03 for MN in lymphocytes and reticulocytes; p < 0.001 for comet assay data) and oxidative stress levels (p = 0.007 and p < 0.001 for MDA and 8-OHdG levels in pre-shift urine samples, respectively) that were detected in the exposed workers over the outwith company controls suggest that Cr(VI) exposure might still represent a health risk, particularly, for chrome painters and electrolytic bath platers, despite the low Cr exposure. The within-company controls displayed DNA and chromosomal damage levels that were comparable to those of the exposed group, highlighting the relevance of considering all industry workers as potentially exposed. The use of effect biomarkers proved their capacity to detect the early biological effects from low Cr(VI) exposure, and to contribute to identifying subgroups that are at higher risk. Overall, this study reinforces the need for further re-evaluation of the occupational exposure limit and better application of protection measures. However, it also raised some additional questions and unexplained inconsistencies that need follow-up studies to be clarified.
  • 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, Christophe
    Abstract: 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.
  • Avaliação da exposição da população portuguesa a substâncias químicas: resultados de um estudo de âmbito nacional
    Publication . Namorado, Sónia; Ogura, Joana; Silva, Susana; Coelho, Inês; Delgado, Inês; Gueifão, Sandra; Ventura, Marta; Martins, Carla; Viegas, Susana; Alvito, Paula; Silva, Maria João; Nunes, Baltazar; Matias Dias, Carlos
    Introdução: Tem sido amplamente reconhecido que a exposição humana a determinados químicos tem um impacto negativo na saúde humana. Importa, pois, caracterizar e monitorização a exposição da população por forma a, se necessário, suportar o desenvolvimento de medidas que levem à redução dessa exposição. Objetivo: Caracterizar a exposição da população adulta portuguesa a um conjunto de substâncias químicas consideradas prioritárias no âmbito da Iniciativa Europeia de Biomonitorização Humana (HBM4EU). Metodologia: Em 2019-2020 realizou-se um estudo epidemiológico transversal (INSEF-ExpoQuim) numa subamostra dos participantes do Inquérito Nacional de Saúde com Exame Físico (INSEF 2015). Para tal, selecionaram-se indivíduos de ambos os sexos e entre os 28 e 39 anos que foram recontactados. Cada participante respondeu a um questionário para recolha de dados socio-demográficos e estilos de vida e cedeu uma amostra de primeira urina da manhã. As amostras foram analisadas em laboratórios previamente qualificados para determinação de cádmio (Cd), bisfenóis (BPA, BPF e BPS), hidrocarbonetos aromáticos policíclicos (PAHs), acrilamidas e micotoxinas (desoxinivalenol – DON). Foi realizada uma análise descritiva das concentrações dos biomarcadores e uma avaliação do risco para a saúde utilizando a proporção de participantes com valores acima dos valores de referência disponíveis. Resultados: Observaram-se, na população portuguesa (n=296), valores médios das concentrações urinárias de BPA, BPS, acrilamidas e de alguns PAHs, entre os quais o 1-hidroxipireno, superiores aos valores médios observados para a população europeia, enquanto que a média das concentrações de cádmio era inferior. Comparando as concentrações dos biomarcadores analisados com os valores de referência disponíveis observou-se que 1,4%, 0%, 19,3%, 13,7% e 1,0% das concentrações de Cd, BPA, BPS, DON, e 1-hidroxipireno, respetivamente, se encontravam acima dos valores de referência. Conclusões: O INSEF-ExpoQuim produziu pela primeira vez dados de exposição a várias substâncias químicas na população adulta portuguesa harmonizados e diretamente comparáveis com valores de exposição da população Europeia. Os resultados mostraram que a população portuguesa está exposta aos químicos analisados e considerados prioritários no âmbito do HBM4EU, com uma proporção significativa de indivíduos a apresentar valores de exposição a BPS e DON, que poderão ser preocupantes, em termos de saúde pública. Os presentes resultados poderão contribuir para a definição de prioridades nacionais num futuro programa de monitorização e apoiar o desenvolvimento de políticas que visem a redução da exposição a estes químicos.