Dataset Information

First steps toward harmonized human biomonitoring in Europe: demonstration project to perform human biomonitoring on a European scale.

ABSTRACT:

Background

For 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.

Objectives

We developed and applied a harmonized protocol to collect comparable human biomonitoring data all over Europe.

Methods

In 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.

Results

Biomarker 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.

Conclusions

We 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.

SUBMITTER: Den Hond E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4348748 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

First steps toward harmonized human biomonitoring in Europe: demonstration project to perform human biomonitoring on a European scale.

Den Hond Elly E Govarts Eva E Willems Hanny H Smolders Roel R Casteleyn Ludwine L Kolossa-Gehring Marike M Schwedler Gerda G Seiwert Margarete M Fiddicke Ulrike U Castaño Argelia A Esteban Marta M Angerer Jürgen J Koch Holger M HM Schindler Birgit K BK Sepai Ovnair O Exley Karen K Bloemen Louis L Horvat Milena M Knudsen Lisbeth E LE Joas Anke A Joas Reinhard R Biot Pierre P Aerts Dominique D Koppen Gudrun G Katsonouri Andromachi A Hadjipanayis Adamos A Krskova Andrea A Maly Marek M Mørck Thit A TA Rudnai Peter P Kozepesy Szilvia S Mulcahy Maurice M Mannion Rory R Gutleb Arno C AC Fischer Marc E ME Ligocka Danuta D Jakubowski Marek M Reis M Fátima MF Namorado Sónia S Gurzau Anca Elena AE Lupsa Ioana-Rodica IR Halzlova Katarina K Jajcaj Michal M Mazej Darja D Tratnik Janja Snoj JS López Ana A Lopez Estrella E Berglund Marika M Larsson Kristin K Lehmann Andrea A Crettaz Pierre P Schoeters Greet G

Environmental health perspectives 20141211 3

<h4>Background</h4>For 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.<h4>Objectives</h4>We developed and applied a harmonized protocol to collect comparable human biomonitoring data all over Europe.<h4>Methods</h4>In 17 European countries, we measured mercury in hair and cotinine, phthalate metabolites, and cadmiu ...[more]

PMID: 25493439

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Dataset Information

First steps toward harmonized human biomonitoring in Europe: demonstration project to perform human biomonitoring on a European scale.

Background

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

First steps toward harmonized human biomonitoring in Europe: demonstration project to perform human biomonitoring on a European scale.

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