HBM in Policy

The main objective of this project is to demonstrate the feasibility of an EU harmonised approach to Human Biomonitoring (HBM). The work will be guided by COPHES that will prepare guidelines and protocols for all tasks, train beneficiaries, deliver preparatory materials including questionnaires and evaluate the process. The project objectives of DEMOCOPHES line up therefore with those from COPHES.

More detailed objectives of this demonstration project are therefore: 

• To build capacity and improve the implementation/use of HBM studies in participating MS and especially:

1. To gain practical knowledge of access to study populations, recruitment procedures and response rates
2. To validate the guidelines, protocols and technical procedures developed within  COPHES
3. To give recommendations to improve overall performance of participating MS units, including laboratory performance/efficiency, time schedule and cost efficiency

• To develop the information base for policy on environment and health in line with the EU Action Plan on Environment and Health 2004-2010 which means:

1. To collect - in 16 EU countries - national HBM data, comparable across Europe
2. To obtain basic values and if possible reference values on selected biomarkers in these countries, including their distribution and comparison with health-based guidance values when available.

• To establish tools for policy developments such as:

1. More precise cost assessments of a EU HBM-programme (full-scale and repeated measurements)
2. Documentation of the spatial variation of exposure to selected pollutants as bioindicators for observation of environmental health and disease status in EU and risk management.
3. An effective and harmonized approach for the interpretation and communication of HBM results to all categories of stakeholders at the level of community, country and EU