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Projeto de investigação
European Human Biomonitoring Initiative
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What is required to combine human biomonitoring and health surveys?
Publication . Tolonen, Hanna; Moore, Sonja; Lermen, Dominik; Virgolino, Ana; Knudsen, Lisbeth E.; Andersson, Anna-Maria; Rambaud, Loïc; Ancona, Carla; Kolossa-Gehring, Marike
Obtaining holistic information about health and health determinants at the population level should also include data on environmental risk factors of health. So far, only a few countries have combined, at the national level, health and human biomonitoring (HBM) surveys to collect extensive information on health, lifestyles, biological health determinants and environmental exposures. This paper will provide guidelines on how to combine health and HBM surveys and what is the added value of doing so. Health and HBM surveys utilize similar infrastructure and data collection methods including questionnaires, collection and analysis of biological samples, and objective health measurements. There are many overlapping or comparable steps in these two survey types. At the European level, detailed protocols for conducting a health examination survey or HBM study exists separately but there is no protocol for a combined survey available by now. Our recommendations for combined health and HBM surveys focus on a cross-sectional survey on general population aged 6-79 years. To avoid unnecessary participant burden, for the selection of included measurements basic principle would be to ensure that results of the measurements have a public health relevance and clear interpretation. Combining health and HBM surveys into one survey would produce an extensive database for research to support policy decisions in many fields such as public health and chemical regulations. Combined surveys are cost-effective as only one infrastructure is needed to collect information and recruit participants.
Challenges to evidence synthesis and identification of data gaps in human biomonitoring
Publication . Virgolino, Ana; Santos, Osvaldo; Costa, Joana; Fialho, Mónica; Iavicoli, Ivo; Santonen, Tiina; Tolonen, Hanna; Samoli, Evangelia; Katsouyanni, Klea; Baltatzis, Georgios; Ruggieri, Flavia; Abballe, Annalisa; Petrovičová, Ida; Kolena, Branislav; Šidlovská, Miroslava; Ancona, Carla; Eržen, Ivan; Sepai, Ovnair; Castaño, Argelia; Kolossa-Gehring, Marike; Fiddicke, Ulrike
The increasing number of human biomonitoring (HBM) studies undertaken in recent decades has brought to light the need to harmonise procedures along all phases of the study, including sampling, data collection and analytical methods to allow data comparability. The first steps towards harmonisation are the identification and collation of HBM methodological information of existing studies and data gaps. Systematic literature reviews and meta-analyses have been traditionally put at the top of the hierarchy of evidence, being increasingly applied to map available evidence on health risks linked to exposure to chemicals. However, these methods mainly capture peer-reviewed articles, failing to comprehensively identify other important, unpublished sources of information that are pivotal to gather a complete map of the produced evidence in the area of HBM. Within the framework of the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) initiative-a project that joins 30 countries, 29 from Europe plus Israel, the European Environment Agency and the European Commission-a comprehensive work of data triangulation has been made to identify existing HBM studies and data gaps across countries within the consortium. The use of documentary analysis together with an up-to-date platform to fulfil this need and its implications for research and practice are discussed.
Maternal acrylamide exposure during pregnancy and fetal growth: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of epidemiological studies
Publication . Hogervorst, Janneke; Virgolino, Ana; Halldorsson, Thorhallur I.; Vinceti, Marco; Åkesson, Agneta; Leander, Karin; Nawrot, Tim; Filippini, Tommaso; Laguzzi, Federica
Background: Acrylamide is a food contaminant linked to developmental toxicity in animals and possibly in humans.
Objectives: We performed a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of epidemiological studies evaluating the relationship between maternal acrylamide exposure during pregnancy and the risk of being small for gestational age (SGA) and birth weight, birth head circumference and birth length.
Methods: We performed the literature search in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, until June 6th, 2022. Studies carried out in mother-newborn pairs, assessing maternal acrylamide exposure during pregnancy, either via dietary assessments or biomarkers i.e., hemoglobin adducts of acrylamide (AA-Hb) and glycidamide (GA-Hb), and evaluating birth outcomes were included. We employed a random-effects model to assess the pooled effect estimates and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between acrylamide exposure and birth outcomes. Risk of Bias for Nutrition Observational Studies tool was used for bias assessment.
Results: Out of 169 records identified, five original studies were eligible, including 53,870 mother-newborn pairs in total. Means were 21.9 μg/day for estimated dietary acrylamide exposure (3 studies), and 18.4 and 14.9 pmol/g for AA-Hb and GA-Hb, respectively (2 studies). Higher risk of SGA and lower birth weight and head circumference were observed in the highest quartile of AA-Hb [odds ratio (OR): 1.20 (95% CI: 1.08; 1.33); mean difference (MD): -131 g (95% CI: -204; -58) and -0.31 cm (95% CI: -0.58; -0.04), respectively], and GA-Hb [OR: 1.36 (95% CI: 1.13; 1.64), MD: -161 g (95% CI: -271; -52); and MD: -0.38 cm (95% CI: -0.66; -0.10), respectively], whereas a lower birth length was observed only in the highest quartile of GA-Hb (MD: -0.85 cm (95% CI: -1.38; -0.33). Results from the dose-response meta-analysis between increasing maternal acrylamide exposure during pregnancy and birth weight showed no clear evidence of a deviation from linearity.
Conclusions: Overall, our findings strengthen the evidence of an adverse effect of maternal acrylamide exposure during pregnancy on fetal growth. These results encourage to increase preventive actions towards lowering acrylamide exposure in the population.
Dietary acrylamide exposure and risk of site-specific cancer: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of epidemiological studies
Publication . Filippini, Tommaso; Halldorsson, Thorhallur I.; Capitão, Carolina; Martins, Raquel; Giannakou, Konstantinos; Hogervorst, Janneke; Vinceti, Marco; Åkesson, Agneta; Leander, Karin; Katsonouri, Andromachi; Santos, Osvaldo; Virgolino, Ana; Laguzzi, Federica
Diet is a main source of acrylamide exposure to humans. Existing observational data on the relationship between dietary exposure to acrylamide and risk of cancer are inconsistent. We performed a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of epidemiological studies evaluating the association between dietary acrylamide exposure and several site-specific cancer. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases until March 7, 2022. Studies were eligible if they were carried out in non-occupationally exposed adults, assessed dietary acrylamide exposure (µg/day) and reported risk estimates of cancer incidence (all but gynecological cancers). Using a random-effects model, we performed a metaanalysis of site-specific cancer risk comparing the highest vs. lowest category of dietary acrylamide exposure. We also carried out a one-stage dose-response metaanalysis assessing the shape of the association. Out of 1,994 papers screened, 31 were eligible (total of 16 studies), which included 1,151,189 participants in total, out of whom 48,175 developed cancer during the median follow-up period of 14.9 years (range 7.3–33.9). The mean estimated dose of dietary acrylamide across studies was 23 µg/day. Pooled analysis showed no association between the highest vs. lowest dietary acrylamide exposure and each site-specific cancer investigated, with no evidence of thresholds in the dose-response meta-analysis. There were also no associations between dietary acrylamide exposure and the risk of cancers when stratifying by smoking status, except for increased risk of lung cancer in smokers. In conclusion, high dietary acrylamide exposure was not associated with an increased risk of site-specific non-gynecological cancer.
Chemical exposure : european citizens’ perspectives, trust, and concerns on human biomonitoring initiatives, information needs, and scientific results
Publication . Uhl, Maria; Santos, Ricardo; Costa, Joana; Santos, Osvaldo; Virgolino, Ana; Evans, David S.; Murray, Cora; Mulcahy, Maurice; Ubong, Dorothy; Sepai, Ovnair; Lobo Vicente, Joana; Leitner, Michaela; Benda-Kahri, Silvia; Zanini-Freitag, Daniela
Over the last few decades, citizen awareness and perception of chemical products has been a topic of interest, particularly concerning national and international policy decision makers, expert/scientific platforms, and the European Union itself. To date, few qualitative studies on human biomonitoring have analysed communication materials, made recommendations in terms of biomonitoring surveillance, or asked for feedback in terms of specific biomonitoring methods. This paper provides in-depth insight on citizens’ perceptions of knowledge of biomonitoring, impact of chemical exposure on daily life, and claims on how results of research should be used. Four semi-structured focus groups were held in Austria, Portugal, Ireland, and the United Kingdom (UK). The cross-sectional observational qualitative design of this study allows for better understanding of public concern regarding chemicals, application, and use of human biomonitoring. The main findings of this study include citizens’ clear articulation on pathways of exposure, the demand on stakeholders for transparent decision-making, and sensitivity in communication of results to the public. Validated and trustful communication is perceived as key to empowering citizens to take action. The results can be used to facilitate decision-making and policy development, and feeds into the awareness needs of similar and future projects in human biomonitoring. Furthermore, it also brings to light ideas and concepts of citizens’ in shaping collaborative knowledge between citizens’, experts, scientists, and policy makers on equal terms.
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Entidade financiadora
European Commission
Programa de financiamento
H2020
Número da atribuição
733032