AD6.2 WP6 - Sustainability and capacity building. Results of the interaction and surveys with the Environment Protection Agency network and the National Reference Centre on Environment & Health

• Autor(a) principal: Lobo Vicente, Joana
• Data de Publicação: 2020
• Outros Autores: Katsonouri, Andromachi, Hans, Reynders, Campenhout, Karen Van, Tarroja, Elena, Louro, Henriqueta, Isidro, Glória, Silva, Maria João, Bourqui, Martine, von Goetz, Natalie
• Tipo de documento: Relatório
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/7554
• topic: Environmental Genotoxicity; Human Biomonitoring; Genotoxicidade Ambiental

The aim of this additional deliverable is to analyse the result of the interaction and surveys with the Environment Protection Agency network and the National Reference Centre on Environment & Health. The consultation to both the EPA network and the NRCs was done through a similar targeted survey, with the aim of understanding their perception of the current HBM4EU and their ideas for a future Human Biomonitoring initiative. The online survey also explored if and how their institution would use HBM4EU results in their work and it also explored the focus that their institution considered a future initiative might take. This could be in terms of exploring exposure to new emerging risks or understanding exposure to known chemical risks, such as heavy metals. In addition, it explored interest in participating in a new initiative and openness towards sharing of best practice. This included questions regarding the possible role that the EPAs and NRCs might play in such an initiative. The invitation was sent out to 29 EPA countries and 15 NRCs, from which 19 answers were obtained in total with 4 EPAs answered and 13 NRCs. One of the EPAs is also a HBM4EU partner, whereas from the 15 NRCs, 13 of those provided their countries/institution from which 7 are HBM4EU partners. The survey produced quite interesting results, where it was pointed out that HBM is the only instrument that can assess human exposure in an integrated and reliable way. From the institutions that are not part of HBM4EU, most of them were aware of the project. The ones that were already part of it would like to carry on as such if a future initiative is to take place. Despite the fact that a slightly higher percentage of institutions do not use HBM at the moment in their work (53 % vs 47 %), all of the institutions recognised the value of HBM and plan on using it in the future. All the NRCs and 75 % of the EPAs are interested in being part of a future initiative with a possible role in: positioning Human Biomonitoring in the strategic agenda of implementation of environmental policy and state of the environment in Europe, supporting the activities of the HBM initiative through an existing interest group under the NRC Network, creating joint working initiatives with other relevant networks. It was clear from the answers given that HBM has triggered an interest and there is a willingness to be part of the future initiative.