Human Biomonitoring (HBM) is an important policy-support tool for the protection of human health, since it provides a direct measure of the levels of environmental chemicals in the human body. In combination with other findings, human biomonitoring can be used to assess whether the level of exposure of the public to environmental pollutants is acceptable or whether measures need to be taken. This international conference, under the frame of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, was the forum for the public announcement of the successful implementation of the first ever harmonized human biomonitoring survey in Europe.
The State General Laboratory was a partner in the two large European projects, (“COPHES” - funded by DG-Research FP7 and “DEMOCOPHES” - funded by DG-Environment LIFE+ and national funds of participating countries), which proved that a European wide measurement of chemicals in people across Europe using a coordinated and harmonized approach is feasible and can contribute to the protection of the health of Europeans in the future. For the first time, comparable results have been obtained for certain chemicals of concern for health in the hair (mercury) and urine (cotinine, phthalate metabolites, cadmium) of almost 4000 mothers and their children in 17 European countries at the same time, in the same way. Six countries also measured bisphenol A in urine. The levels of chemicals in peoples bodies varied greatly among countries, indicating that there are differences in exposures across Europe. Understanding the factors which lead to these differences such as contamination of water, food, or consumer products, or difference in life styles, etc. will lead to evidence based policy decisions. However, to ensure that HBM is a timely and effective tool, Europe needs a structure that will allow suitable coordination and organization at a EU level. The need for a European HBM framework is now widely recognized.
The conference attracted more than 140 participants from 30 countries, representing EU and MS authorities, policy makers, industry, the World Health Organization, the European Food Safety Authority, the European Environment Agency, academic institutions and advocate groups. The Minister of Health of the Republic of Cyprus, opened the conference proceedings.
The conference booklet, which includes the scientific program and the abstracts of all oral and poster presentations can be accessed here.
Cyprus EU Presidency press release, European projects measure chemicals in people across Europe for the first time.
More information on the implementation of DEMOCOPHES in Cyprus and the national results can be accessed on the national Cyprus DEMOCOPHES webpage www.democophes.org
More information of the COPHES and DEMOCOPHES at EU level can be accessed on the European webpage of the twin projects at www.eu-hbm.info
Some photographs from this successful scientific conference and the enjoyable social program, which highlighted Cypriot hospitality and culture, can be found here.