A pilot study on the feasibility of European harmonized Human Biomonitoring: Strategies towards a common approach, challenges and opportunities

L Casteleyn; B Dumez; K Becker; M Kolossa-Gehring; E Den Hond; G Schoeters; A Castaño; H M Koch; J Angerer; M Esteban; K Exley; O Sepai; L Bloemen; M Horvat; Lisbeth E. Knudsen; A Joas; R Joas; P Biot; G Koppen; M-C Dewolf; A Katsonouri; A Hadjipanayis; M Cerná; A Krsková; G Schwedler; U Fiddicke; J K S Nielsen; Janne Fangel Jensen; P Rudnai; S Közepésy; M Mulcahy; R Mannion; A C Gutleb; M E Fischer; D Ligocka; M Jakubowski; M F Reis; S Namorado; I-R Lupsa; A E Gurzau; K Halzlova; M Jajcaj; D Mazej; J Tratnik Snoj; M Posada; E López; M Berglund; K Larsson; A Lehmann; P Crettaz; D Aerts

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2014.10.028

A pilot study on the feasibility of European harmonized Human Biomonitoring: Strategies towards a common approach, challenges and opportunities

L Casteleyn, B Dumez, K Becker, M Kolossa-Gehring, E Den Hond, G Schoeters, A Castaño, H M Koch, J Angerer, M Esteban, K Exley, O Sepai, L Bloemen, M Horvat, Lisbeth E. Knudsen, A Joas, R Joas, P Biot, G Koppen, M-C DewolfA Katsonouri, A Hadjipanayis, M Cerná, A Krsková, G Schwedler, U Fiddicke, J K S Nielsen, Janne Fangel Jensen, P Rudnai, S Közepésy, M Mulcahy, R Mannion, A C Gutleb, M E Fischer, D Ligocka, M Jakubowski, M F Reis, S Namorado, I-R Lupsa, A E Gurzau, K Halzlova, M Jajcaj, D Mazej, J Tratnik Snoj, M Posada, E López, M Berglund, K Larsson, A Lehmann, P Crettaz, D Aerts

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In 2004 the European Commission and Member States initiated activities towards a harmonized approach for Human Biomonitoring surveys throughout Europe. The main objective was to sustain environmental health policy by building a coherent and sustainable framework and by increasing the comparability of data across countries. A pilot study to test common guidelines for setting up surveys was considered a key step in this process. Through a bottom-up approach that included all stakeholders, a joint study protocol was elaborated.From September 2011 till February 2012, 17 European countries collected data from 1844 mother-child pairs in the frame of DEMOnstration of a study to COordinate and Perform Human Biomonitoring on a European Scale (DEMOCOPHES).¹1http://www.eu-hbm.info/democophes (last accessed October 15 2014). Mercury in hair and urinary cadmium and cotinine were selected as biomarkers of exposure covered by sufficient analytical experience. Phthalate metabolites and Bisphenol A in urine were added to take into account increasing public and political awareness for emerging types of contaminants and to test less advanced markers/markers covered by less analytical experience. Extensive efforts towards chemo-analytical comparability were included.The pilot study showed that common approaches can be found in a context of considerable differences with respect to experience and expertize, socio-cultural background, economic situation and national priorities. It also evidenced that comparable Human Biomonitoring results can be obtained in such context. A European network was built, exchanging information, expertize and experiences, and providing training on all aspects of a survey. A key challenge was finding the right balance between a rigid structure allowing maximal comparability and a flexible approach increasing feasibility and capacity building. Next steps in European harmonization in Human Biomonitoring surveys include the establishment of a joint process for prioritization of substances to cover and biomarkers to develop, linking biomonitoring surveys with health examination surveys and with research, and coping with the diverse implementations of EU regulations and international guidelines with respect to ethics and privacy.

Original language	English
Journal	Environmental Research
Volume	141
Pages (from-to)	3–14
Number of pages	12
ISSN	0013-9351
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2014.10.028
Publication status	Published - 1 Aug 2015

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10.1016/j.envres.2014.10.028

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Casteleyn, L., Dumez, B., Becker, K., Kolossa-Gehring, M., Den Hond, E., Schoeters, G., Castaño, A., Koch, H. M., Angerer, J., Esteban, M., Exley, K., Sepai, O., Bloemen, L., Horvat, M., Knudsen, L. E., Joas, A., Joas, R., Biot, P., Koppen, G., ... Aerts, D. (2015). A pilot study on the feasibility of European harmonized Human Biomonitoring: Strategies towards a common approach, challenges and opportunities. Environmental Research, 141, 3–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2014.10.028

Casteleyn, L, Dumez, B, Becker, K, Kolossa-Gehring, M, Den Hond, E, Schoeters, G, Castaño, A, Koch, HM, Angerer, J, Esteban, M, Exley, K, Sepai, O, Bloemen, L, Horvat, M, Knudsen, LE, Joas, A, Joas, R, Biot, P, Koppen, G, Dewolf, M-C, Katsonouri, A, Hadjipanayis, A, Cerná, M, Krsková, A, Schwedler, G, Fiddicke, U, Nielsen, JKS, Jensen, JF, Rudnai, P, Közepésy, S, Mulcahy, M, Mannion, R, Gutleb, AC, Fischer, ME, Ligocka, D, Jakubowski, M, Reis, MF, Namorado, S, Lupsa, I-R, Gurzau, AE, Halzlova, K, Jajcaj, M, Mazej, D, Tratnik Snoj, J, Posada, M, López, E, Berglund, M, Larsson, K, Lehmann, A, Crettaz, P & Aerts, D 2015, 'A pilot study on the feasibility of European harmonized Human Biomonitoring: Strategies towards a common approach, challenges and opportunities', Environmental Research, vol. 141, pp. 3–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2014.10.028

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title = "A pilot study on the feasibility of European harmonized Human Biomonitoring: Strategies towards a common approach, challenges and opportunities",

abstract = "In 2004 the European Commission and Member States initiated activities towards a harmonized approach for Human Biomonitoring surveys throughout Europe. The main objective was to sustain environmental health policy by building a coherent and sustainable framework and by increasing the comparability of data across countries. A pilot study to test common guidelines for setting up surveys was considered a key step in this process. Through a bottom-up approach that included all stakeholders, a joint study protocol was elaborated.From September 2011 till February 2012, 17 European countries collected data from 1844 mother-child pairs in the frame of DEMOnstration of a study to COordinate and Perform Human Biomonitoring on a European Scale (DEMOCOPHES).11http://www.eu-hbm.info/democophes (last accessed October 15 2014). Mercury in hair and urinary cadmium and cotinine were selected as biomarkers of exposure covered by sufficient analytical experience. Phthalate metabolites and Bisphenol A in urine were added to take into account increasing public and political awareness for emerging types of contaminants and to test less advanced markers/markers covered by less analytical experience. Extensive efforts towards chemo-analytical comparability were included.The pilot study showed that common approaches can be found in a context of considerable differences with respect to experience and expertize, socio-cultural background, economic situation and national priorities. It also evidenced that comparable Human Biomonitoring results can be obtained in such context. A European network was built, exchanging information, expertize and experiences, and providing training on all aspects of a survey. A key challenge was finding the right balance between a rigid structure allowing maximal comparability and a flexible approach increasing feasibility and capacity building. Next steps in European harmonization in Human Biomonitoring surveys include the establishment of a joint process for prioritization of substances to cover and biomarkers to develop, linking biomonitoring surveys with health examination surveys and with research, and coping with the diverse implementations of EU regulations and international guidelines with respect to ethics and privacy.",

author = "L Casteleyn and B Dumez and K Becker and M Kolossa-Gehring and {Den Hond}, E and G Schoeters and A Casta{\~n}o and Koch, {H M} and J Angerer and M Esteban and K Exley and O Sepai and L Bloemen and M Horvat and Knudsen, {Lisbeth E.} and A Joas and R Joas and P Biot and G Koppen and M-C Dewolf and A Katsonouri and A Hadjipanayis and M Cern{\'a} and A Krskov{\'a} and G Schwedler and U Fiddicke and Nielsen, {J K S} and Jensen, {Janne Fangel} and P Rudnai and S K{\"o}zep{\'e}sy and M Mulcahy and R Mannion and Gutleb, {A C} and Fischer, {M E} and D Ligocka and M Jakubowski and Reis, {M F} and S Namorado and I-R Lupsa and Gurzau, {A E} and K Halzlova and M Jajcaj and D Mazej and {Tratnik Snoj}, J and M Posada and E L{\'o}pez and M Berglund and K Larsson and A Lehmann and P Crettaz and D Aerts",

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doi = "10.1016/j.envres.2014.10.028",

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journal = "Environmental Research",

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T2 - Strategies towards a common approach, challenges and opportunities

AU - Casteleyn, L

AU - Dumez, B

AU - Becker, K

AU - Kolossa-Gehring, M

AU - Den Hond, E

AU - Schoeters, G

AU - Castaño, A

AU - Koch, H M

AU - Angerer, J

AU - Esteban, M

AU - Exley, K

AU - Sepai, O

AU - Bloemen, L

AU - Horvat, M

AU - Knudsen, Lisbeth E.

AU - Joas, A

AU - Joas, R

AU - Biot, P

AU - Koppen, G

AU - Dewolf, M-C

AU - Katsonouri, A

AU - Hadjipanayis, A

AU - Cerná, M

AU - Krsková, A

AU - Schwedler, G

AU - Fiddicke, U

AU - Nielsen, J K S

AU - Jensen, Janne Fangel

AU - Rudnai, P

AU - Közepésy, S

AU - Mulcahy, M

AU - Mannion, R

AU - Gutleb, A C

AU - Fischer, M E

AU - Ligocka, D

AU - Jakubowski, M

AU - Reis, M F

AU - Namorado, S

AU - Lupsa, I-R

AU - Gurzau, A E

AU - Halzlova, K

AU - Jajcaj, M

AU - Mazej, D

AU - Tratnik Snoj, J

AU - Posada, M

AU - López, E

AU - Berglund, M

AU - Larsson, K

AU - Lehmann, A

AU - Crettaz, P

AU - Aerts, D

PY - 2015/8/1

Y1 - 2015/8/1

N2 - In 2004 the European Commission and Member States initiated activities towards a harmonized approach for Human Biomonitoring surveys throughout Europe. The main objective was to sustain environmental health policy by building a coherent and sustainable framework and by increasing the comparability of data across countries. A pilot study to test common guidelines for setting up surveys was considered a key step in this process. Through a bottom-up approach that included all stakeholders, a joint study protocol was elaborated.From September 2011 till February 2012, 17 European countries collected data from 1844 mother-child pairs in the frame of DEMOnstration of a study to COordinate and Perform Human Biomonitoring on a European Scale (DEMOCOPHES).11http://www.eu-hbm.info/democophes (last accessed October 15 2014). Mercury in hair and urinary cadmium and cotinine were selected as biomarkers of exposure covered by sufficient analytical experience. Phthalate metabolites and Bisphenol A in urine were added to take into account increasing public and political awareness for emerging types of contaminants and to test less advanced markers/markers covered by less analytical experience. Extensive efforts towards chemo-analytical comparability were included.The pilot study showed that common approaches can be found in a context of considerable differences with respect to experience and expertize, socio-cultural background, economic situation and national priorities. It also evidenced that comparable Human Biomonitoring results can be obtained in such context. A European network was built, exchanging information, expertize and experiences, and providing training on all aspects of a survey. A key challenge was finding the right balance between a rigid structure allowing maximal comparability and a flexible approach increasing feasibility and capacity building. Next steps in European harmonization in Human Biomonitoring surveys include the establishment of a joint process for prioritization of substances to cover and biomarkers to develop, linking biomonitoring surveys with health examination surveys and with research, and coping with the diverse implementations of EU regulations and international guidelines with respect to ethics and privacy.

AB - In 2004 the European Commission and Member States initiated activities towards a harmonized approach for Human Biomonitoring surveys throughout Europe. The main objective was to sustain environmental health policy by building a coherent and sustainable framework and by increasing the comparability of data across countries. A pilot study to test common guidelines for setting up surveys was considered a key step in this process. Through a bottom-up approach that included all stakeholders, a joint study protocol was elaborated.From September 2011 till February 2012, 17 European countries collected data from 1844 mother-child pairs in the frame of DEMOnstration of a study to COordinate and Perform Human Biomonitoring on a European Scale (DEMOCOPHES).11http://www.eu-hbm.info/democophes (last accessed October 15 2014). Mercury in hair and urinary cadmium and cotinine were selected as biomarkers of exposure covered by sufficient analytical experience. Phthalate metabolites and Bisphenol A in urine were added to take into account increasing public and political awareness for emerging types of contaminants and to test less advanced markers/markers covered by less analytical experience. Extensive efforts towards chemo-analytical comparability were included.The pilot study showed that common approaches can be found in a context of considerable differences with respect to experience and expertize, socio-cultural background, economic situation and national priorities. It also evidenced that comparable Human Biomonitoring results can be obtained in such context. A European network was built, exchanging information, expertize and experiences, and providing training on all aspects of a survey. A key challenge was finding the right balance between a rigid structure allowing maximal comparability and a flexible approach increasing feasibility and capacity building. Next steps in European harmonization in Human Biomonitoring surveys include the establishment of a joint process for prioritization of substances to cover and biomarkers to develop, linking biomonitoring surveys with health examination surveys and with research, and coping with the diverse implementations of EU regulations and international guidelines with respect to ethics and privacy.

U2 - 10.1016/j.envres.2014.10.028

DO - 10.1016/j.envres.2014.10.028

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 25746298

SN - 0013-9351

VL - 141

SP - 3

EP - 14

JO - Environmental Research

JF - Environmental Research

ER -

A pilot study on the feasibility of European harmonized Human Biomonitoring: Strategies towards a common approach, challenges and opportunities

Abstract

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