1
|
Akūlova L, Paegle L, Mārtiņsone I, Vanadziņš I, Knudsen LE, Matisāne L. COVID-19 pandemic influence on perceived exposure to chemical substances in Latvia: data from a focus group discussion and the HBM4EU citizen survey. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1382368. [PMID: 38846609 PMCID: PMC11155454 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1382368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has globally influenced the exposure of populations to chemical substances through various channels. This study aims to evaluate the tendencies of the use of chemical products in Latvia amidst the pandemic. Answers from 597 respondents (26.6% male, 73.4% female, mean age 46.0 ± 12.2) which were gathered as part of the HBM4EU (Human Biomonitoring Initiative) citizen survey and 8 focus group participants were used. Methods The study utilized data from the HBM4EU citizen survey and conducted focus group discussions to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on chemical product usage in Latvia. Survey responses were analyzed to identify changes in exposure to chemicals, particularly in relation to disinfection agents and household products. Results More than two-thirds of survey participants reported increased exposure to chemicals during the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly related to the use of disinfection agents and household products. About 2-in-5 (39.8%) of survey respondents considered that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased their interest in exposure to chemicals. The excessive use of disinfectant products is the main concern of citizens (mentioned by 66.7%, n = 389). Also, two focus group participants noted that the use of disinfectant products is too widespread and should be minimized. Discussion The findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has not only increased the use of chemical products in Latvia but also promoted an interest in safe and healthy use of chemicals which could be useful to raise the awareness of the general public.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lāsma Akūlova
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases, Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Linda Paegle
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases, Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Inese Mārtiņsone
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases, Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Ivars Vanadziņš
- Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Lisbeth E. Knudsen
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Linda Matisāne
- Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lobo Vicente J, Ganzleben C, Gasol R, Marnane I, Gilles L, Buekers J, Bessems J, Colles A, Gerofke A, David M, Barouki R, Uhl M, Sepai O, Loots I, Crabbé A, Coertjens D, Kolossa-Gehring M, Schoeters G. HBM4EU results support the Chemicals' Strategy for Sustainability and the Zero-Pollution Action Plan. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 248:114111. [PMID: 36706581 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
One of the major goals of the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) was to bridge the gap between science and policy by consulting both policy makers and national scientists and generating evidence of the actual exposure of residents to chemicals and whether that exposure would be suggest a potential health risk. Residents' perspectives on chemical exposure and risk were also investigated. HBM4EU's research was designed to answer specific short-term and long-term policy questions at national and European levels, and for its results to directly support regulatory action on chemicals. A strategy was established to prioritise chemicals for analysis in human matrices, with a total of 18 substances/substance groups chosen to be investigated throughout the five-and a -half-year project. HBM4EU produced new evidence of human exposure levels, developed reference values for exposure, investigated determinants of exposure and derived health-based guidance values for those substances. In addition, HBM4EU promoted the use of human biomonitoring data in chemical risk assessment and developed innovative tools and methods linking chemicals to possible health impacts, such as effect biomarkers. Furthermore, HBM4EU advanced understand of effects from combined exposures and methods to identify emerging chemicals. With the aim of supporting policy implementation, science-to-policy workshops were organised, providing opportunities for joint reflection and dialogue on research results. I, and indicators were developed to assess temporal and spatial patterns in the exposure of European population. A sustainable human biomonitoring monitoring framework, producing comparable quality assured data would allow: the evaluation of time trends; the exploration of spatial trends: the evaluation of the influence of socio-economic conditions on chemical exposure. Therefore, such a framework should be included in the European Chemicals' Strategy for Sustainability and the data would support the Zero Pollution Action Plan.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joana Lobo Vicente
- European Environment Agency (EEA), Kongens Nytorv 6, 1050 Copenhagen K, Denmark.
| | - Catherine Ganzleben
- European Environment Agency (EEA), Kongens Nytorv 6, 1050 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Roser Gasol
- European Environment Agency (EEA), Kongens Nytorv 6, 1050 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Ian Marnane
- European Environment Agency (EEA), Kongens Nytorv 6, 1050 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Liese Gilles
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Jurgen Buekers
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Jos Bessems
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Ann Colles
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Antje Gerofke
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Corrensplatz 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Madlen David
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Corrensplatz 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Maria Uhl
- Environment Agency, Spittelauer Lände 5, Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Ovnair Sepai
- United Kingdom Health Security Agency, Harwell Science Park, Chilton, OX11 0RQ, UK
| | - Ilse Loots
- University of Antwerp, Department of Sociology (CRESC and IMDO), Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ann Crabbé
- University of Antwerp, Department of Sociology (CRESC and IMDO), Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Dries Coertjens
- University of Antwerp, Department of Sociology (CRESC and IMDO), Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Greet Schoeters
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium; University of Antwerp, Dept of Biomedical Sciences and Toxicological Centre, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Knudsen LE, Tolonen H, Scheepers PTJ, Loots I, Vorkamp K, Hajeb P, Sepai O, Gilles L, Splanemann P, Weise P, Kolossa-Gehring M. Implementation and coordination of an ethics framework in HBM4EU - Experiences and reflections. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 248:114098. [PMID: 36565602 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Human biomonitoring involves the use of human samples and data to investigate exposure to environmental chemicals and their impact on human health. HBM4EU developed a coordinated and harmonized approach involving 29 countries in Europe plus Israel. Addressing ethical issues has been an indispensable prerequisite, from the application phase, grant agreement, project performance to the closing of the project. HBM4EU has established a better understanding of the ethics in such projects and the need for a standardised way of reporting and handling of ethics and data exchange, securing compliance with ethics standards, transparency, transferability and sustainability. The main reflections were: KNOWLEDGE: Ethics awareness, norms and practices are dynamic and increased throughout the project, much learning and experience is achieved by practice and dialogue. ATTITUDE Rules and standards were very diversely known and needed to adhere to local practices. ASSISTANCE Good results achieved from webinars, training, help desk, and individual consultations. STANDARDISATION Was achieved by templates and naming convention across documents. MANAGEMENT The establishment of the SharePoint directory with uploading of all requested documents assisted collaboration and exchange. Also, a designated task for ethics within the management/coordination work package and the enthusiasm of the task leader were essential. COMPLIANCE Some, but not all partners were very good at complying with deadlines and standards. TRANSFERABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY All documents are archived in the SharePoint directory while a system assuring updating is recommended. TRANSPARENCY Assured by public access to annual ethics reports. The ethics reports bridged to the annual work plans (AWPs). EVALUATION The Ethics Check by the Commission was successful.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisbeth E Knudsen
- Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Oester Farimagsgade 5, DK 1353, Copenhagen K, Denmark.
| | - Hanna Tolonen
- Department of Health and Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Paul T J Scheepers
- Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Ilse Loots
- Department of Sociology (CRESC) and IMDO, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Katrin Vorkamp
- Aarhus University, Department of Environmental Science, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Parvaneh Hajeb
- Aarhus University, Department of Environmental Science, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Ovnair Sepai
- UK Health Security Agency, Harwell Science Park, OX11 0RQ, UK.
| | - Liese Gilles
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), 2400, Mol, Belgium.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
[Human Biomonitoring for Europe (HBM4EU)-first insights into the results of the initiative]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2022; 65:936-939. [PMID: 35997778 PMCID: PMC9436871 DOI: 10.1007/s00103-022-03578-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Beim Human-Biomonitoring wird die innere Schadstoffbelastung des Menschen aus verschiedenen Quellen wie Nahrung, Alltagsgegenständen oder Atemluft erfasst, indem z. B. Blut und Urin analysiert werden. Um das Human-Biomonitoring in Europa zu fördern und zu koordinieren, wurde 2017 das Projekt „Human-Biomonitoring für Europa“ (HBM4EU) begonnen, an dem sich 30 Länder, die Europäische Umweltagentur und die Europäische Kommission beteiligt haben. Im Juni 2022 wurde das Projekt abgeschlossen. Vergleichbare und zuverlässige Belastungsdaten konnten für eine breite Palette von Umweltchemikalien erfasst und einheitlich bewertet werden. Weitere wichtige Erfolge der Initiative waren die Etablierung eines Kontrollprogramms zur Qualitätssicherung, ein Konzept zur Vereinheitlichung zukünftiger HBM-Studien, eine gemeinsame Strategie zur Ableitung von gesundheitsbezogenen Beurteilungswerten (HBM Guidance Values – HBM-GVs) und die Einrichtung nationaler Gremien. Die gewonnenen Belastungsdaten sind über die Informationsplattform für die Überwachung von Chemikalien (IPCHEM) und das EU HBM-Dashboard zugänglich. Publikationen sind über die HBM4EU-Onlinebibliothek frei verfügbar. Insgesamt zeigen die Ergebnisse, dass die Belastungen der EU-Bevölkerung für viele Chemikalien wie etwa Phthalate und perfluorierte Alkylsubstanzen (PFAS) zu hoch sind und weiterhin Handlungsbedarf seitens der Politik besteht. Das im Projekt HBM4EU generierte Wissen kann die politischen Entscheidungsträger:innen bei der Verbesserung der Chemikalien‑, Umwelt- und Gesundheitspolitik unterstützen.
Collapse
|