Developing human biomonitoring as a 21st century toolbox within the European exposure science strategy 2020–2030

Maryam Zare Jeddi (1) , Nancy Hopf , Henriqueta Louro , Susana Viegas , Karen Galea , Robert Pasanen-Kase , Tiina Santonen , Vicente Mustieles , Mariana Fernandez , Hans Verhagen , Stephanie Bopp , Jean-Philippe Antignac (2) , Arthur David (3, 4, 5, 6) , Hans Mol , Robert Barouki (7) , Karine Audouze , Manosij Ghosh , Radu-Corneliu Duca , Loïc Rambaud , Peter Fantke , Xenia Trier , Paul Scheepers , Marike Kolossa-Gehring , An van Nieuwenhuyse , Clémence Fillol (8) , Joana Lobo Vicente , Sebastien Denys , Florian Schulze , André Conrad , Alicia Paini , Jon Arnot , Lorraine Brennan , Kate Jones , Ovnair Sepai , Imran Ali , Emilio Benfenati , Francesco Cubadda , Alberto Mantovani , Alena Bartonova , Alison Connolly , Jaroslav Slobodnik , Yuri Bruinen de Bruin , Jacob van Klaveren , Cathrine Thomsen , Nicole Palmen , Hubert Dirven , Trine Husøy , Ana Virgolino , Martin Röösli , Tim Gant , Natalie von Goetz , Jos Bessems (9)

1 RIVM - National Institute for Public Health and the Environment [Bilthoven]
2 LABERCA - Laboratoire d'étude des Résidus et Contaminants dans les Aliments
3 Irset - Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail
4 LERES - Laboratoire d'étude et de recherche en environnement et santé
5 EHESP - École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique [EHESP]
6 DEESSE - Département des sciences en santé environnementale
7 T3S - UMR_S 1124 - Toxicité environnementale, cibles thérapeutiques, signalisation cellulaire
8 Santé publique France - French National Public Health Agency [Saint-Maurice, France]
9 VITO - Flemish Institute for Technological Research

Human biomonitoring (HBM) is a crucial approach for exposure assessment, as emphasised in the European Commission's Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS). HBM can help to improve chemical policies in five major key areas: (1) assessing internal and aggregate exposure in different target populations; 2) assessing exposure to chemicals across life stages; (3) assessing combined exposure to multiple chemicals (mixtures); (4) bridging regulatory silos on aggregate exposure; and (5) enhancing the effectiveness of risk management measures. In this strategy paper we propose a vision and a strategy for the use of HBM in chemical regulations and public health policy in Europe and beyond. We outline six strategic objectives and a roadmap to further strengthen HBM approaches and increase their implementation in the regulatory risk assessment of chemicals to enhance our understanding of exposure and health impacts, enabling timely and targeted policy interventions and risk management. These strategic objectives are: 1) further development of sampling strategies and sample preparation; 2) further development of chemical-analytical HBM methods; 3) improving harmonisation throughout the HBM research life cycle; 4) further development of quality control / quality assurance throughout the HBM research life cycle; 5) obtain sustained funding and reinforcement by legislation; and 6) extend target-specific communication with scientists, policymakers, citizens and other stakeholders. HBM approaches are essential in risk assessment to address scientific, regulatory and societal challenges. HBM requires full and strong support from the scientific and regulatory domain to reach its full potential in public and occupational health assessment and in regulatory decision-making.

Mots clés: Chemicals mixtures; Circular economy; Data governance; Human biomonitoring; One substance-one assessment; Zero Pollution Ambition

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]

Maryam Zare Jeddi, Nancy Hopf, Henriqueta Louro, Susana Viegas, Karen Galea, et al.. Developing human biomonitoring as a 21st century toolbox within the European exposure science strategy 2020–2030. Environment International, 2022, 168, pp.107476. ⟨10.1016/j.envint.2022.107476⟩. ⟨hal-03789634⟩