Within the European Human Biomonitoring (HBM) Initiative HBM4EU we derived HBM indicators that were designed to help answering key policy questions and support chemical policies. The result indicators convey information on chemicals exposure of different age groups, sexes, geographical regions and time points by comparing median exposure values. If differences are observed for one group or the other, policy measures or risk management options can be implemented. Impact indicators support health risk assessment by comparing exposure values with health-based guidance values, such as human biomonitoring guidance values (HBM-GVs). In general, the indicators should be designed to translate complex scientific information into short and clear messages and make it accessible to policy makers but also to a broader audience such as stakeholders (e.g. NGO's), other scientists and the general public. Based on harmonized data from the HBM4EU Aligned Studies (2014-2021), the usefulness of our indicators was demonstrated for the age group children (6-11 years), using two case examples: one phthalate (Diisobutyl phthalate: DiBP) and one non-phthalate substitute (Di-isononyl cyclohexane-1,2- dicarboxylate: DINCH). For the comparison of age groups, these were compared to data for teenagers (12-18 years), and time periods were compared using data from the DEMOCOPHES project (2011-2012). Our result indicators proved to be suitable for demonstrating the effectiveness of policy measures for DiBP and the need of continuous monitoring for DINCH. They showed similar exposure for boys and girls, indicating that there is no need for gender focused interventions and/or no indication of sex-specific exposure patterns. They created a basis for a targeted approach by highlighting relevant geographical differences in internal exposure. An adequate data basis is essential for revealing differences for all indicators. This was particularly evident in our studies on the indicators on age differences. The impact indicator revealed that health risks based on exposure to DiBP cannot be excluded. This is an indication or flag for risk managers and policy makers that exposure to DiBP still is a relevant health issue. HBM indicators derived within HBM4EU are a valuable and important complement to existing indicator lists in the context of environment and health. Their applicability, current shortcomings and solution strategies are outlined.
- MeSH
- biologický monitoring MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- kyseliny ftalové * MeSH
- kyseliny karboxylové MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- postup MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
OBJECTIVES: The authors aimed to evaluate whether blood cadmium (B-Cd), lead (B-Pb) and mercury (B-Hg) in children differ regionally in 9 countries, and to identify factors correlating with exposure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors performed a cross-sectional study of children aged 7-14 years, living in 2007-2008 in urban, rural, or potentially polluted ("hot spot") areas (ca. 50 children from each area, in total 1363 children) in 6 European and 3 non-European countries. The authors analyzed Cd, Pb, and total Hg in blood and collected information on potential determinants of exposure through questionnaires. Regional differences in exposure levels were assessed within each country. RESULTS: Children living near industrial "hot-spots" had B-Cd 1.6 (95% CI: 1.4-1.9) times higher in the Czech Republic and 2.1 (95% CI:1.6-2.8) times higher in Poland, as compared to urban children in the same countries (geometric means [GM]: 0.13 μg/l and 0.15 μg/l, respectively). Correspondingly, B-Pb in the "hot spot" areas was 1.8 (95% CI: 1.6-2.1) times higher than in urban areas in Slovakia and 2.3 (95% CI: 1.9-2.7) times higher in Poland (urban GM: 19.4 μg/l and 16.3 μg/l, respectively). In China and Morocco, rural children had significantly lower B-Pb than urban ones (urban GM: 64 μg/l and 71 μg/l, respectively), suggesting urban exposure from leaded petrol, water pipes and/or coal-burning. Hg "hot spot" areas in China had B-Hg 3.1 (95% CI: 2.7-3.5) times higher, and Ecuador 1.5 (95% CI: 1.2-1.9) times higher, as compared to urban areas (urban GM: 2.45 μg/l and 3.23 μg/l, respectively). Besides industrial exposure, traffic correlated with B-Cd; male sex, environmental tobacco smoke, and offal consumption with B-Pb; and fish consumption and amalgam fillings with B-Hg. However, these correlations could only marginally explain regional differences. CONCLUSIONS: These mainly European results indicate that some children experience about doubled exposures to toxic elements just because of where they live. These exposures are unsafe, identifiable, and preventable and therefore call for preventive actions. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(3):349-64.
Přehledový článek shrnuje výsledky českého lidského biomonitoringu za téměř tři dekády své existence. Národní biologický monitoring byl ve Státním zdravotním ústavu v Praze uveden do činnosti v roce 1994 v rámci Systému monitorování zdravotního stavu obyvatelstva České republiky ve vztahu k životnímu prostředí, aby byl posléze navázán na evropské a světové odborné aktivity v této oblasti. V jeho průběhu byla sledována celá škála organických i anorganických xenobiotik a esenciálních látek v krvi, moči a vlasech dospělé a dětské populace, v mateřském mléce kojících žen a také v dalších, méně obvyklých matricích. Výstupem jsou cenné dlouhodobé časové řady, které mj. ukazují, jakým způsobem mohou fungovat zavedená preventivní opatření v praxi a jak korespondují se snižující se expozicí populace. Na druhé straně lze jeho prostřednictvím ověřit, zda a jak rychle může dojít k expozici člověka nově používaným chemickým látkám. Správně interpretované výsledky lidského biologického monitoringu jsou důležité pro odborníky z oblasti veřejného zdraví ke stanovení referenčních hodnot, k porovnání se zdravotními limity, k hodnocení zdravotních rizik, pro účely zdravotní politiky i k mezinárodnímu srovnání. Ve vhodně zpracované podobě mohou sloužit k informovanosti a vzdělávání laické veřejnosti o zátěži lidské populace chemickými látkami z prostředí. Dlouhodobé zkušenosti z oblasti českého biologického monitoringu umožňují Státnímu zdravotnímu ústavu účast v mnoha zahraničních projektech, zaměřených na sledování expozice různých populačních skupin chemickým látkám z prostředí.
The article summarises the results of Czech Human Biomonitoring over a period of three decades. Human biomonitoring in the Czech Republic was commenced at the National Institute of Public Health, Prague, in 1994 as part of the Environmental Health Monitoring System and was later linked to European and worldwide professional activities in this area. During the course of this project the whole range of organic and inorganic xenobiotics and essential substances was monitored in the blood, urine and hair of the adult and child populations, in the breast milk of breastfeeding women and in other, less common matrices. The results have provided valuable long-term time series that show how established preventive measures can work in practice and how they correspond to decreasing population exposure. Results can also be used to verify whether or not, and how quickly, can individuals be exposed to newly used chemical substances. Results of human biological monitoring are important for public health professionals to establish reference values, to provide comparison with health limits, to assess health risks, for health policy purposes and international comparison. Appropriately processed results can serve to inform and educate the public about human population burden by chemical substances in the environment. Long-term experience in the field of human biomonitoring enables experts of the National Institute of Public Health to participate in many foreign projects focused on monitoring the exposure of various population groups to chemical substances from the environment.
- MeSH
- biologické markery krev moč MeSH
- biologický monitoring * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mateřské mléko chemie MeSH
- městské obyvatelstvo MeSH
- nebezpečné látky analýza MeSH
- vystavení vlivu životního prostředí * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
Characterization of PCB exposure sources for vulnerable population groups is essential to minimize the health effects of PCB exposure. At the same time, it is important to consolidate the knowledge on threshold intakes of PCBs for infants and toddlers to prevent health effects. We estimated total PCB concentrations from birth to 2 years of age in children from Slovak and Czech populations, which continue to have high PCB concentrations in breast milk. Using a pharmacokinetic (PK) model, we characterized dominant PCB exposure sources and estimated new threshold estimated daily intakes (TEDI) (above which adverse effects cannot be excluded) for postnatal PCB exposure in infants and toddlers. In the PK model, concentrations of seven indicator PCBs in breast milk and cord blood samples from 291 mother-child pairs from the Slovak birth cohort, and 396 breast milk samples from Czech mothers we used, together with their physiological characteristics and PCB concentrations from other exposure sources (food, dust, air). The estimated total PCB concentrations in children's blood at different ages were compared with threshold PCB concentrations of 500, 700 and 1000 ng·glipid-1 in serum proposed by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) and the German Environment Agency (UBA), above which possible adverse health effects may be expected. We estimated that up to 20.6% of Slovak children and up to 45.7% of Czech children at two years of age exceeded the threshold value of 700 ng·glipid-1 in blood. Mean TEDIs leading to values of 500 ng·glipid-1 in blood for children up to two years ranged between 110 and 220 ng·kg-1·bw·day-1, varying according to breastfeeding duration. Breast milk and prenatal exposure contributed to 71%-85% of PCBs exposure at two years of age. In contrast, the contributions of PCBs from dust and indoor air were negligible.
- MeSH
- kojenec MeSH
- kojení MeSH
- látky znečišťující životní prostředí * analýza MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- lipidy MeSH
- mateřské mléko chemie MeSH
- nežádoucí účinky léčiv * MeSH
- polychlorované bifenyly * analýza MeSH
- prach MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- Check Tag
- kojenec MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Lidský biomonitoring je považován v současné době za univerzální nástroj k odhadu expozice a rizika chemických kontaminant prostředí. Jednotné postupy a doporučení pro evropské státy jsou v současné době řešeny v mezinárodním projektu European Human Biomonitoring Iniciative (HBM4EU).
Human biomonitoring is now considered to be a universal tool to estimate exposure to and risk from chemical environmental contaminants. Uniform procedures and guidelines for European countries are currently being addressed within the international project European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU).
- MeSH
- biologický monitoring * MeSH
- Evropská unie organizace a řízení MeSH
- látky znečišťující životní prostředí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mezinárodní spolupráce MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
BACKGROUND: Perfluoralkylated substances (PFASs) are persistent and bioaccumulative environmental contaminants. They are included on the list of emergent compounds monitored in the frame of HBM4EU project. OBJECTIVES: To analyze PFASs levels in human milk samples collected in the period 2006 through 2017, to follow their time trends, to assess the PFASs exposure in breastfed infants, to calculate the daily intake of PFASs and to compare it with the tolerable daily/weekly) intakes and to quantify risk from exposure using the hazard quotient and hazard index approach. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A broad spectrum of PFASs were analyzed by means of UHPLC-MS/MS in primipara human milk samples collected in four consecutive time periods 2006, 2010/11, 2014, and 2017; N = 46, 183, 164 and 232, respectively. Mothers living in urban and suburban residences were recruited after their delivery at maternity hospitals, and milk samples were taken within 2 and 8 weeks after delivery. The questionnaire was focused on possible sources of exposure, dietary habits and lifestyle. RESULTS: Only perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoid acid PFOA (in 2017, also perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)) were quantified in more than 90% of analyzed human milk samples. In all sampling periods, the levels of PFOA were higher than those of PFOS (p < 0.05). A significant downward temporal trend (p < 0.001) was observed for both PFOA and PFOS levels. The median concentrations in sampling years 2006, 2010/11, 2014, and 2017 were 0.075, 0.059, 0.035, and 0.023 ng/mL for PFOA and 0.045, 0.031, 0.029, and 0.020 ng/mL for PFOS, respectively. In 2017, PFNA was also quantified in 99% of samples with the median concentration of 0.007 ng/mL. The levels of PFASs correlated with maternal sea fish consumption. No maternal age-related relationship was observed. Using the tolerably daily intake (TDI) values for PFOS and PFOA set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2008, the calculated daily intakes from breastfeeding were clearly below these limits. Using the new, more conservative EFSA Provisional Tolerably Weekly Intake (PTWI) values set in 2018, we demonstrated a considerable exceedance of PTWI, with a hazard index above 1. CONCLUSION: Significant time-related decreasing trends in the PFOS and PFOA levels in human milk were observed. Nevertheless, the body burden of infants from breastfeeding might pose an enhanced health risk to infants when the current PTWI values are applied. These findings strongly support the present EU efforts to phase out PFOA, its salts and PFOA related compounds. Since PFOS exposure there has still been widely detected despite PFOS usage reduction measures, the major exposure routes should be further monitored and, if possible, eliminated.
- MeSH
- biologický monitoring MeSH
- fluorokarbony * analýza MeSH
- kapryláty analýza MeSH
- kojenec MeSH
- kyseliny alkansulfonové * analýza MeSH
- látky znečišťující životní prostředí * analýza MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mateřské mléko chemie MeSH
- tandemová hmotnostní spektrometrie MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- kojenec MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
Knowledge of population exposure to phthalates based on the urinary metabolite levels is of the highest importance for health risk assessment. Such data are scarce in the Czech population. In the study conducted in 2016, six urinary phthalate metabolites were analysed in a total of 370 first morning urine samples of healthy children aged 5 and 9 years, namely mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (5OH-MEHP), mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (5oxo-MEHP), mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP), mono-iso-butyl phthalate (MiBP), and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP). The two latter mono-butyl phthalate isoforms dominated among all samples with geometric means of 63.0 µg/L (MnBP) and 44.1 µg/L (MiBP), followed by 5OH-MEHP (20.6 µg/L), 5oxo-MEHP (12.9 µg/L), MBzP (3.65 µg/L), and MEHP (2.31 µg/L). Daily intake (DI) of the parent phthalates was estimated using the creatinine-based model. The highest DI values were found for di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) (median 2.5 µg/kg bw/day; 95th percentile 7.8 µg/kg bw/day) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) (median 2.3 µg/kg bw/day; 95th percentile 8.9 µg/kg bw/day) in 5-year-old children. The tolerable daily intake (TDI) set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was exceeded in case of DnBP (in 1% of 9-year-olds and in 3% of 5-year-olds). Exposure risk was assessed based on hazard quotients calculation and cumulative approach for similar health effect. The combined exposure to four phthalates expressed by hazard index (HI) for reprotoxicity revealed exceeding of HI threshold in 14% of 5-year-olds and in 9% of 9-year-olds. These findings strongly support the need to reduce the burden of children by phthalates.
- MeSH
- dávka bez pozorovaného nepříznivého účinku MeSH
- diethylhexylftalát aplikace a dávkování analogy a deriváty moč MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- hodnocení rizik MeSH
- kreatinin moč MeSH
- kyseliny ftalové aplikace a dávkování moč MeSH
- látky znečišťující životní prostředí aplikace a dávkování moč MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- školy MeSH
- vystavení vlivu životního prostředí analýza MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
Jód patří mezi esenciální prvky a jeho nedostatek má významné zdravotní důsledky. Podle Světové zdravotnické organizace (WHO) je ukazatelem dostatečné saturace organismu koncentrace jódu v moči v rozsahu 100-199 µg/l; mediánové hodnoty od 100 do 299 μg/l jsou pokládány za vyhovující a charakterizují populaci bez jódového deficitu. V rámci biologického monitoringu byla hladina jódu v moči sledována v roce 2015 u dospělé populace (dárci krve, N = 234) a v roce 2016 u dětské populace (5 a 9 let, N = 400). Výsledky u dospělé populace ukázaly optimální zásobení jódem (100-199 µg/l) u 42 % osob. Hodnoty nižší než 100 μg/l značí nedostatečnou saturaci; pod touto hladinou bylo 34 % osob. Mediánová koncentrace jodurie u dospělé populace činila 129 µg/l. Hodnoty jodurie u sledované skupiny dětí upozornily na problém spíše nadměrné saturace. Střední hodnota (medián) jodurie činila 248 µg/l. Optimální obsah jódu v moči byl zjištěn pouze u 25 % dětí. Nadměrné hodnoty jodurie (nad 300 µg/l) mělo 34 % dětí a pouze 7 % dětí bylo zásobeno jódem nedostatečně. Saturaci české populace jódem je proto nezbytné sledovat i nadále a to nejen z hlediska nedostatku, ale i nadměrného příjmu jódu.
Iodine is one of the essential elements and its deficiency has significant health consequences. The optimum urinary iodine level is in range 100-199 µg/L, median value from 100 to 299 µg/L, were considered satisfactory and characterize the population without iodine deficiency, as set by the World Health Organization. As part of biological monitoring, iodine was monitored in 2015 in the adult population (blood donors, N = 234) and 2016 in the children population (5 and 9 years, N = 400). The optimum urinary iodine level (100-199 µg/L) was found in 42% of study subjects (adult). 34% of study subjects had lower urinary iodine levels. The median ioduria was 129 µg/L. The results obtained in children pointed to the problem of iodine oversaturation. The median ioduria was 248 µg/L. The optimum urinary iodine level was found in only 25% of children. Iodine oversaturation (ioduria above 300 µg/L) was recorded in 34% of children. As few as 7% of children had insufficient iodine saturation. The saturation of the Czech population by iodine is therefore still necessary to follow, not only in terms of shortage but also of excessive iodine intake.
- MeSH
- dárci krve MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- jod * moč nedostatek MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- monitorování životního prostředí * normy statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
BACKGROUND: There is little reliable information on human exposure to the metals platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd) and rhodium (Rh), despite their use in enormous quantities in catalytic converters for automobile exhaust systems. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate blood concentrations of Pt (B-Pt), Pd (B-Pd) and Rh (B-Rh) in women from six European and three non-European countries, and to identify potentially influential factors. In addition, molybdenum (Mo) and strontium (Sr) were analysed. METHODS: Blood from 248 women aged 47-61 was analysed by high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry under strict quality control. RESULTS: The medians were: B-Pt 0.8 (range <0.6-5.2), B-Pd <5 (<5-9.3), B-Rh <0.4 (<0.4-3.6)ng/L and B-Mo 2.0 (0.2-16) and B-Sr 16.6 (3.5-49) μg/L. Two women with highly elevated B-Pt (242 and 60ng/L), previously cancer treated with cis-platinum, were not included in the data analysis. All elements varied geographically (2-3 times) (B-Pd P=0.05; all other elements P<0.001); variations within each area were generally 5-10 times. Traffic was not associated with increased concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: General population blood concentrations of Pt, Pd and Rh are within or below the single digit ng/L range, much lower than in most previous reports. This is probably due to improved analytical performance, allowing for more reliable information at ultra-trace levels. In general, Mo and Sr agreed with previously reported concentrations. All elements showed geographical and inter-individual variations, but no convincing relationships with self-reported traffic intensity were found. Pt from the antineoplastic drug cis-platinum is retained in the body for years.
- MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- molybden krev MeSH
- monitorování životního prostředí * MeSH
- palladium krev MeSH
- platina krev MeSH
- rhodium krev MeSH
- stroncium krev MeSH
- těžké kovy krev MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- velkoměsta MeSH
