Walloon human biomonitoring
In 2019, the Walloon government has entrusted the Institut Scientifique de Service Public (ISSeP) with the coordination and implementation of a Walloon human biomonitoring program, a first in Wallonia.
The BMH-WAL project brings together ISSeP, CHU-Liège’s Clinical Toxicology Department, UCLouvain’s Louvain Center for Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc and Sciensano.
Study objectives
The aim of the first program is to obtain reference values for the exposure of Walloon residents. emerging and older pollutants and chemicals – such as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) – found in the environment: in the air we breathe, our food, packaging, everyday products, in the home and garden.
The data obtained from biomonitoring of Walloon volunteers will make it possible..:
- to determine specific reference concentrations for the Walloon population;
- determine whether certain age groups are more exposed;
- determine whether impregnation is the same for both sexes;
- determine the influence of the typology of the place of residence (urban/rural/agricultural/industrial);
- determine whether Walloon exposure to substances is similar to or different from exposure in other (European) countries with similar socio-economic levels;
- where exposure limit values are available, to assess whether the internal levels reached pose a health problem and require special preventive or intervention measures.
Depending on the size of the sample and on the basis of a complementary survey, associations between potential sources of exposure to chemical substances and the level of impregnation will be sought.
The support committee of April 24, 2019 decided to work on the basis of the age categories and numbers recommended by HBM4EU. It was agreed that this first phase would target 3 age categories: newborns, adolescents aged 12 to 19 and young adults aged 20 to 39.
The number of participants to be included in the study was set at 300 individuals per age category.
Recruitment of participants in the 5 Walloon provinces began in November 2019 and ended at the end of July 2020. A urine sample and a blood sample were collected from adolescents and adults, and a cord blood sample was collected from newborns. The target of 300 individuals per age category was not reached due to the covid-19 health crisis. In all, 283 teenagers aged between 12 and 19, 261 adults aged between 20 and 39 and 284 newborn babies took part in this first phase of the BMH-Wal project.
At the end of September 2021, participants received their personal analysis results. The final collective results of the study were presented to the press and the Walloon population on October 4, 2021.
Documents
The second phase of the BMH-Wal project comprises two components.
Section 1 : children aged 3 to 5 and 6 to 11
As in phase 1 of the BMH-Wal 1 project, three age categories were initially targeted: children aged 3-5, children aged 6-11 and adults aged 40-59. However, due to the health crisis and compulsory teleworking in companies, adult recruitment was postponed until phase 3 of the BMH-Wal project.
Children were recruited from mid-December 2020 to early June 2021. 300 children aged 3-5 and 302 children aged 6-11 from the 5 Walloon provinces took part in the project by providing a urine sample. Each parent also completed a questionnaire on their child’s diet, home environment, hobbies and so on.
Part 2: Additional substances
Additional substances (PFASs, PBDEs, PCBs) were analyzed in samples from newborns, adolescents aged 12 to 19 and adults aged 20 to 39 (collected in 2019-2020 during phase 1).
Personal results (for the children’s and additional substances components) were sent to participants in May 2023. The final collective results of the study were presented to the press and the Walloon population on May 24, 2023.
Documents
The third phase of the BMH-Wal project comprises two components.
Section 1: adults aged 40 to 59
The 40 to 59 age group was targeted. Recruitment ran from April 2023 to early August 2023. 302 adults aged 40-59 from the 5 Walloon provinces took part in the project, providing a urine and blood sample. Laboratory analyses are underway.
Section 2: Statistical analyses
A statistical analysis of the numerous data collected from participants in the first three phases of the BMH-Wal project (6 age categories) via the self-questionnaire will be carried out to investigate the influence of socio-economic factors, type of environment (urban, agricultural, rural), behavior, diet, etc., on the results.
Documents:
The substances sought are pesticides currently in use (insecticides and the herbicide glyphosate), or that were used many years ago (such as DDT), metals (such as lead, chromium, cadmium, arsenic, etc.).), so-called “endocrine disruptors” such as bisphenol A and its alternatives in plastic packaging, Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) banned many years ago but still present in the environment, substances derived from the combustion of organic materials or other substances present in cosmetics, cleaning products, electronic appliances, etc.
We are exposed to these substances by ingestion, inhalation or through the skin. They are present in many everyday products (cleaning products, toys, cosmetics, building materials, aerosols, etc.), as well as in our food and in the environment such as water, air and soil. These substances or their residues (their metabolites) are thus found in human fluids or tissues (blood, urine, umbilical cord, hair, etc.). By analyzing these samples, it is possible to obtain a real, global estimate of people’s exposure to these chemicals. Biomonitoring is therefore particularly useful for monitoring these substances.
–General information on substances measured and advice on reducing exposure
-Find out more about each substance:
Who are you, who is funding this study and who approved it?
We are a team of multidisciplinary scientists from the Institut Scientifique de Service Public (ISSeP), Sciensano, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège, Université Catholique de Louvain and Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc (UCL-CSL). Our project is called BMH-Wal. It is financed by the Service Public de Wallonie.
What substances are analyzed?
These include pesticides currently in use (insecticides and the herbicide glyphosate), or that were used many years ago (such as DDT), metals (such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, etc.) and substances known as “endocrine disruptors”, such as bisphenol A and its alternatives in plastic packaging materials, or other substances found in cosmetics, cleaning products, electronic appliances, etc.
How will the study be carried out?
Once candidates have agreed to take part, an appointment will be arranged. On this occasion, a urine sample will be collected in a container provided to the participant, and a blood sample will be taken by a qualified and specially trained health professional.
We’ll also ask you to fill in a questionnaire designed to gather information about your lifestyle, diet, home, general state of health and so on.
This will take about 30 minutes. During the appointment, you’ll still have time to ask all the questions you want before making up your mind!
Blood and urine samples are then analyzed in the laboratory. Once all test results are available, statistical analysis and interpretation can begin. A report on the collective results will be drawn up.
All this will take about 2 years. So you won’t know the results of the study for another two years.
How do you prepare for your visit?
No special preparation is required.
Is the entire population covered by the study?
Yes, depending on the phase of the project, different age groups are targeted.
Each of these age categories is of specific interest. Adults aged 20 to 39 have both feet firmly planted in their working lives and family lives, and are renovating their homes. Adolescents are not yet professionally exposed, they often still live with their parents and spend a lot of time in school environments, and they have been exposed for less time than adults to banned persistent substances still present in the environment. Children are particularly vulnerable to exposure to chemicals in the environment, in food and in consumer products. As for newborn babies, we’d like to know what substances they were exposed to early in life.
Other FAQs on biomonitoring studies?
►Summary
SUMMARY – BMH-Wal phase 1 and 2
►Synthesis
BMH-Wal1 synthesis
Synthesis_BMH-Wal 2_children
Synthesis_BMH-Wal 2_substsuppl
►Reference value reports
ISSeP-Sciensano BMH-Wal1 reference value ratio
Reference values report CHU_BMH-Wal phase 1+2
Reference values report UCLouvain_BMH-Wal phase 1+2+substsuppl
Reference values report CHU_BMH-Wal 2_subst suppl
Reference value ratio Siensano_BMH-Wal 2_subst suppl
►Recruitment reports
BMH-Wal1 recruitment report
BMH-Wal 2 recruitment report
►Methods for processing and analyzing BMH-Wal results
►Laboratory reports
Sciensano_BMH-Wal 1 lab report
Rapport labo CHU_ BMH-Wal 2_subst suppl
For further information before, during or after the study, please contact us:
Ingrid Ruthy, Aline Jacques and Suzanne Remy
ISSeP – Cellule Environnement-Santé, 200 Rue du Chéra – 4000 Liège
Tel. 04 229 83 11
GSM: 0479 866 144 – 0479 866 167
Email : biomonitoring@issep.be