HBM4EU developed strategies, guideline documents, HBM harmonisation methods across the EU, and a full analytical QA/QC programme to improve comparability of HBM data and their use for policy. A European network of HBM analytical laboratories now exists for chemical analysis qualified/expert laboratories, analytical method development and support/implementation of QA schemes for HBM4EU prioritised substances.
The HBM4EU Aligned Studies generated new comparable HBM data for Europe, informed on current internal exposure of the general population to selected priority substances and on effect biomarkers in over 10,000 citizens, e.g. exposure biomarkers of phthalates, DINCH, flame retardants, pesticides, acrylamide, PFAS, arsenic species, UV-filters, cadmium, bisphenols, PAHs and mycotoxins. Harmonised occupational studies were done on exposure to i.a. chromium (VI), other harmful chemicals, to diisocyanates and in E-waste handling. A targeted Intervention Study on Mercury was done to evaluate impacts of dietary advice for pregnant women in countries with a diet high in fresh water/marine products and high mercury levels, showing the successful collaboration between HBM experts and health providers for health promotion. Through feasibility studies HBM4EU also demonstrated the utility and drawbacks of combining HBM and health surveys.
HBM metadata and summary statistics are available through the HBM module of IPCHEM, contributing to the use of HBM data in policy processes.
A new interactive European HBM Dashboard allows visualisation of HBM data collections & summary statistics from HBM4EU, e.g. exposure levels, temporal/spatial trends in chemical exposure of citizens and exposure distributions (e.g. for sex, region, age group and educational level).
To interpret HBM data in a health risk context, HBM Guidance Values (HBM-GVs) for general and occupationally exposed population were derived. HBM based indicators were developed to enable the use of HBM data for assessing time/spatial trends in internal exposure of citizens and to get an overview of the population at risk.
Values of key toxicokinetic parameters and specific chemical-biological interactions to link external to internal exposure and improve exposure models for risk assessment were identified. A HBM4EU exposure database was built to provide necessary data for exposure models for reconstructing exposure from HBM data and to estimate internal doses for prioritised chemicals.
Biomarkers of exposure were complemented with biomarkers of effect as a proof of concept to increase the weight of evidence of exposure-health outcome associations in human studies. New methodologies based on artificial intelligence and systems toxicology were developed to link several priority substances to molecular initiating and key events in Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs). Existing data was analysed together with novel measurements, in line with health endpoints and prioritised effect biomarkers, to advance knowledge on exposure-health relationships, specifically concerning PFAS.
To identify chemicals of emerging concern, we developed the first proofs-of-concept illustrating 1) capabilities of suspect screening to capture simultaneously a range of exposure markers in human samples, 2) capabilities of non-targeted screening of halogenated markers of exposure to reveal new markers in human samples that are likely to be new emerging compounds, 3) elaboration of a never yet achieved aggregated and QA/QC consolidated EU database (CECScreen) inventorying >300.000 exposure markers related to chemicals of emerging concern, and 4) creation of an MS/MS spectral reference library to increase the confidence level in the identity of the detected exposure markers.
To identify health risks of chemical mixtures a diverse set of case studies and a decision tree for addressing mixture effects were developed. For combined exposure to multiple chemicals, we showed how network analysis of existing HBM data can be used to identify real-life mixtures, i.e. clusters of co-occurring chemicals. Network analysis of existing HBM datasets from 4 different countries across Europe, showed that combined exposures to multiple chemicals are common and occur in all population groups. In the SPECIMEn study on pesticides, harmonised suspect screening analyses was done on urine samples, resulting in the identification of 95 pesticide-related markers, related to 30 parent compounds, e.g. acetamiprid, chlorpropham, boscalid, and clothianidin.
A strategy and communication lines for feeding results into policy processes and main messages to targeted audiences were developed. Substance specific policy briefs and reports highlight the HBM4EU results and answers to policy questions and main messages for policy makers.
The 3rd list of prioritised substances was identified and a survey launched to identify policy needs/activities for chemical risk assessment – for continuation in the Partnership for the Assessments of Risk from Chemicals (PARC).
A vision for a sustainable HBM programme in Europe, based on input from National Hubs (NH), EU agencies, EC Directorate Generals and experience of HBM4EU and a concept anchored in the EU’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, were created.
