Together, we build a European Exposure Science Strategy
[To join the working group, please first become a member at the Global ISES organization. During the membership process, be sure to select the Europe Chapter to join the Europe Chapter Working Groups.]
Exposure data production: Human data — An Exposure Science Tool for Exposure and Risk Assessment
The Working Group “Human Biomonitoring” of the European Chapter of the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES Europe) aims to foster development and use of Human Biomonitoring (HBM) data at European scale by bringing experts across relevant exposure disciplines together and providing a platform to exchange ideas on science and regulatory applications in the chemicals domain. Long-term outputs would have the potential to contribute to development of a Europe-wide harmonised exposure science strategy and the creation of a European exposure data production-Human data infrastructure. (Human)Biomonitoring, although as of yet to a minor extent, is used in exposure and risk assessments to provide concrete exposure information and to reduce uncertainties along the “source to exposure to health effects outcome” continuum. The overall scope of the working group is provide a podium to facilitate interaction to further the development of guidance for interpretation of biomarker data, to help improving the design of new HBM studies to efficiently answer targeted research questions regarding substances of high concern and emerging risks, and to synthesize relevant information across scientific disciplines to address human health risks as a cross cutting field in exposure science. These issues were expressed by multiple actors during the first ISES Europe workshop (19th – 20th June 2018 at BAuA Dortmund Germany). There is a need to build upon what was achieved at the first ISES Europe workshop in Dortmund, and to translate the aspirations voiced by participants into action that will exploit the opportunities that were identified. The scope of the WG HBM should encompass application of harmonised and state-of-the-art methods and tools for generation, collection, appraisal, interpretation and integration of data on biomarker of exposure and biomarker of effects, and consideration of human variability in toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics in chemical risk assessment. The first goal of the working group would be to connect expert scientists from the relevant disciplines and from various European activities (such as HBM4EU) and, by considering those ongoing activities and long-term needs, to discuss and conclude on activities and tasks for the working group along the lines of the Dortmund workshop for the short-term and long-term to feed into the European Exposure Science Strategy with a Roadmap 2020-2030.
Some suggestions for possible future issues where the working group could contribute to discussions and activities are presented in the following table. We need to be discussed at first working group meeting in order to define precise objective for the working group and establish an action plan. The list may not be complete and, simultaneously, that it may not be realistic to work on all aspects at once.
| Needs | Priority | Explanation | Term |
| Exploring applicability of current human biomonitoring data (activities) in each EU organisation (ECHA, EFSA, EMA, EEA etc) to facilitate chemical risk assessment process | |||
| How to make science on human biomonitoring useful for policy makers: what are their needs and expectations from science | |||
| To validate biomarker approaches for various exposures, both focusing on individual chemical compounds as well as on holistic approaches (exposome) | |||
| To establish unified data structures for collecting exposure data. IPChem is the preferred and open access data infrastructure | |||
| Line up with HBM4EU. E.g. having 1 or more shared workshops | |||
| Integrating current chemical exposure assessment data with other exposures to improve understanding of their correlations and joint health effects (holistic approaches captured under ‘exposome’) | |||
| Better understanding the current strategy in relation to continue human biomonitoring activities as initiated under HBM4EU and develop novel monitoring schemes in humans. | |||
| Create (or arrange access to) a shared sustainable primary data repository for biomarkers of exposure, biomarkers of effect, and exposome related targets | |||
| The role of human biomonitoring data in the risk assessment process of emerging risks | |||
| Facilitate and maximise the use of shared databases to support domains of exposure assessment, toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics for cross cutting risk assessment | |||
| Integrate human biomonitoring data from epidemiological studies with classical exposure data and experimental biology to create a bridge with hazard assessment and risk characterisation for derivation of health- based guidance values leading to promotion of exposure to hazard approach | |||
| Optimise the design and exploitation of human observational studies in a way that results are useful for regulatory bodies | |||
| Develop biomonitoring-based indicators of exposure for subpopulation groups | |||
| Exploring the association between exposure biomarkers and effect biomarkers related to hallmark onset of diseases, such as cancer | |||
| Exploration of models and tools to facilitate the integration of different types of data for risk assessment | |||
| Promote cross-discipline interaction to create opportunities for work on key domains of exposure assessment | |||
| Develop models and tools for the use of human biomonitoring data in chemical risk assessment of mixtures | |||
| A need for a better appreciation of the relationship that exist among life cycle risk assessment, risk assessment and human biomonitoring to improve regulatory decisions and policy making for chemicals that can lead to an informed strategic prioritization of safer chemicals | |||
| Focus on strategic partnerships to create synergy and avoid duplication of work | |||
| The convergence of human health and artificial intelligence: The role of artificial intelligence in risk assessment | |||
| Exposure data and security | |||
| Harmonisation/QA-QC of HBM analysis, non-target screening and building up generic databases (the NORMAN network enhances) |
In addition to the strategy paper(s) published as part of the Human Biomonitoring Working Group, the following paper(s) have also been published:
Towards a systematic use of effect biomarkers in population and occupational biomonitoring. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106257
A vision on the ‘foodture’ role of dietary exposure sciences in the interplay between food safety and nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2022.01.024
Biomonitoring as an Underused Exposure Assessment Tool in Occupational Safety and Health Context—Challenges and Way Forward. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17165884
A human biomonitoring (HBM) Global Registry Framework: Further advancement of HBM research following the FAIR principles. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113826
Characterization of Potential Adverse Outcome Pathways Related to Metabolic Outcomes and Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Using Artificial Intelligence. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10080449