Concept of the Flemish human biomonitoring programme

Schoeters, Greet; Hond, Elly Den; Colles, Ann; Loots, Ilse; Morrens, Bert; Keune, Hans; Bruckers, Liesbeth; Nawrot, Tim S.; Sioen, Isabelle; Coster, Sam De; Larebeke, Nicolas Van; Nelen, Vera; Mieroop, Els Van de; Vrijens, Jan; Croes, Kim; Goeyens, Karen; Baeyens, Willy

doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2011.11.006

Cited by 93 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…some of the phthalate metabolites) no guidelines were available. Many others have recommended or taken this approach and provided the results first to the study individuals, then announcing the aggregate results nationally and to the broader scientific community (Brody et al, 2014;Emmett et al, 2009;Haines et al, 2011;NRC, 2006;Schoeters et al, 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Communication in a Human biomonitoring study: Focus group work, public engagement and lessons learnt in 17 European countries

Exley

Cano

Aerts

et al. 2015

Environmental Research

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A communication strategy was developed by The Consortium to Perform Human Biomonitoring on a European Scale (COPHES), as part of its objectives to develop a framework and protocols to enable the collection of comparable human biomonitoring data throughout Europe. The framework and protocols were tested in the pilot study DEMOCOPHES (Demonstration of a study to Coordinate and Perform Human biomonitoring on a European Scale). The aims of the communication strategy were to raise awareness of human biomonitoring, encourage participation in the study and to communicate the study results and their public health significance. It identified the audiences and key messages, documented the procedure for dissemination of results and was updated as the project progressed. A communication plan listed the tools and materials such as press releases, flyers, recruitment letters and information leaflets required for each audience with a time frame for releasing them. Public insight research was used to evaluate the recruitment material, and the feedback was used to improve the documents. Dissemination of results was coordinated in a step by step approach by the participating countries within DEMOCOPHES, taking into account specific national messages according to the needs of each country. Participants received individual results, unless they refused to be informed, along with guidance on what the results meant. The aggregate results and policy recommendations were then communicated to the general public and stakeholders, followed by dissemination at European level. Several lessons were learnt that may assist other future human biomonitoring studies. Recruitment took longer than anticipated and so social scientists, to help with community engagement, should be part of the research team from the start. As a European study, involving multiple countries, additional considerations were needed for the numerous organisations, different languages, cultures, policies and priorities. Therefore, communication documents should be seen as templates with essential information clearly indicated and the option for each country to tailor the material to reflect these differences. Future studies should consider setting up multidisciplinary networks of medical professionals and communication experts, and holding training workshops to discuss the interpretation of results and risk communication. Publicity and wide dissemination of the results helped to raise awareness of human biomonitoring to the general public, policy makers and other key stakeholders. Effective and timely communication, at all stages of a study, is essential if the potential of human biomonitoring research to improve public health is to be realised.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Communication in a Human biomonitoring study: Focus group work, public engagement and lessons learnt in 17 European countries

Exley

Cano

Aerts

et al. 2015

Environmental Research

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“…These included metals, persistent chemicals, such as organochlorines, and non-persistent chemicals, such as phthalates, phytoestrogens and pesticides. We compared their concentrations with those of U.S. women of child-bearing age who participated in NHANES 2005–2012 and with other international biomonitoring studies (Cerna et al, 2012; Den Hond et al, 2015; Fréry et al, 2012; Haines and Murray, 2012; Kolossa-Gehring et al, 2012; Mørck et al, 2015b; Perez-Gomez et al, 2013; Schoeters et al, 2012). We used PCA to quantify the correlation of biomarkers between and within chemical classes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure to multiple chemicals in a cohort of reproductive-aged Danish women

Rosofsky

Janulewicz

Thayer

et al. 2017

Environmental Research

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Background Current exposure assessment research does not sufficiently address multi-pollutant exposure and their correlations in human media. Understanding the extent of chemical exposure in reproductive-aged women is of particular concern due to the potential for in utero exposure and fetal susceptibility. Objectives The objectives of this study were to characterize concentrations of chemical biomarkers during preconception and examine correlations between and within chemical classes. Methods We examined concentrations of 135 biomarkers from 16 chemical classes in blood and urine from 73 women aged 18–40 enrolled in Snart Foraeldre/Milieu, a prospective cohort study of pregnancy planners in Denmark (2011–2014). We compared biomarker concentrations with United States similarly-aged, non-pregnant women who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Environmental Survey (NHANES) and with other international biomonitoring studies. We performed principal component analysis to examine biomarker correlations. Results The mean number of biomarkers detected in the population was 92 (range: 60–108). The most commonly detected chemical classes were phthalates, metals, phytoestrogens and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Except blood mercury, urinary barium and enterolactone, geometric means were higher in women from NHANES. Chemical classes measured in urine generally did not load on a single component, suggesting high between-class correlation among urinary biomarkers, while there is high within-class correlation for biomarkers measured in serum and blood. Conclusions We identified ubiquitous exposure to multiple chemical classes in reproductive-aged Danish women, supporting the need for more research on chemical mixtures during preconception and early pregnancy. Inter- and intra-class correlation between measured biomarkers may reflect common exposure sources, specific lifestyle factors or shared metabolism pathways.

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“…Experience with human biomonitoring in the general population differs among European countries, with long-standing traditions in countries such as Germany (Becker et al 2008), France (Fréry et al 2012), the Czech Republic (Cerná et al 2012), Belgium (Flanders) (Schoeters et al 2012), and Spain (Pérez-Gómez 2013), whereas other countries have no experience at all.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First Steps toward Harmonized Human Biomonitoring in Europe: Demonstration Project to Perform Human Biomonitoring on a European Scale

Hond

Govarts

Willems

et al. 2015

Environ Health Perspect

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BackgroundFor Europe as a whole, data on internal exposure to environmental chemicals do not yet exist. Characterization of the internal individual chemical environment is expected to enhance understanding of the environmental threats to health.ObjectivesWe developed and applied a harmonized protocol to collect comparable human biomonitoring data all over Europe.MethodsIn 17 European countries, we measured mercury in hair and cotinine, phthalate metabolites, and cadmium in urine of 1,844 children (5–11 years of age) and their mothers. Specimens were collected over a 5-month period in 2011–2012. We obtained information on personal characteristics, environment, and lifestyle. We used the resulting database to compare concentrations of exposure biomarkers within Europe, to identify determinants of exposure, and to compare exposure biomarkers with health-based guidelines.ResultsBiomarker concentrations showed a wide variability in the European population. However, levels in children and mothers were highly correlated. Most biomarker concentrations were below the health-based guidance values.ConclusionsWe have taken the first steps to assess personal chemical exposures in Europe as a whole. Key success factors were the harmonized protocol development, intensive training and capacity building for field work, chemical analysis and communication, as well as stringent quality control programs for chemical and data analysis. Our project demonstrates the feasibility of a Europe-wide human biomonitoring framework to support the decision-making process of environmental measures to protect public health.CitationDen Hond E, Govarts E, Willems H, Smolders R, Casteleyn L, Kolossa-Gehring M, Schwedler G, Seiwert M, Fiddicke U, Castaño A, Esteban M, Angerer J, Koch HM, Schindler BK, Sepai O, Exley K, Bloemen L, Horvat M, Knudsen LE, Joas A, Joas R, Biot P, Aerts D, Koppen G, Katsonouri A, Hadjipanayis A, Krskova A, Maly M, Mørck TA, Rudnai P, Kozepesy S, Mulcahy M, Mannion R, Gutleb AC, Fischer ME, Ligocka D, Jakubowski M, Reis MF, Namorado S, Gurzau AE, Lupsa IR, Halzlova K, Jajcaj M, Mazej D, Snoj Tratnik J, López A, Lopez E, Berglund M, Larsson K, Lehmann A, Crettaz P, Schoeters G. 2015. First steps toward harmonized human biomonitoring in Europe: demonstration project to perform human biomonitoring on a European scale. Environ Health Perspect 123:255–263; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408616

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Concept of the Flemish human biomonitoring programme

Cited by 93 publications

References 29 publications

Communication in a Human biomonitoring study: Focus group work, public engagement and lessons learnt in 17 European countries

Communication in a Human biomonitoring study: Focus group work, public engagement and lessons learnt in 17 European countries

Exposure to multiple chemicals in a cohort of reproductive-aged Danish women

First Steps toward Harmonized Human Biomonitoring in Europe: Demonstration Project to Perform Human Biomonitoring on a European Scale

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