Open AccessHarmonized European human biomonitoring in small countries: Challenges, opportunities and lessons learned in Cyprus and Luxembourg from the DEMOCOPHES study
Author(s) -
Andromachi Katsonouri,
Marc Fischer,
Adamos Hadjipanayis,
Michael D. Arendt,
G. Lavranos,
Lars Hoffmann,
Katja Maurer-Chronakis,
Cédric Guignard,
C. Fragopoulou,
Emmanuelle Cocco,
Erika Anastasi,
D. Pilavakis,
Elisavet Efstathiou,
L. Demetriou,
A. Hadjiefthychiou,
Eleni Demetriou,
Dominique Aerts,
Ludwine Casteleyn,
Pierre Biot,
M. Kolossa-Gehrin,
Elly Den Hond,
Greet Schoeters,
Argelia Castaño,
Marta Esteban,
Ulrike Fiddicke,
Karen Exley,
Ovnair Sepai,
Arno C Gutleb
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
biomonitoring
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2300-4606
DOI - 10.1515/bimo-2015-0005
Subject(s) - harmonization , biomonitoring , protocol (science) , quality assurance , environmental planning , business , environmental health , environmental protection , environmental resource management , geography , medicine , environmental science , marketing , ecology , physics , acoustics , service (business) , alternative medicine , pathology , biology
Background: To advance human biomonitoring(HBM) for policy support in Europe, a harmonizedapproach was developed (COPHES project, FP7 2009-2012) and evaluated in 17 countries (DEMOCOPHESproject, Life+, 2010-2012). Cyprus (CY) and Luxembourg(LU) tested the hypothesis that the COPHESEuropean Protocol is applicable to small countries.Materials and methods: In 2011-12, the European Protocolwas adopted and tested by CY and LU for the harmonizedbiomonitoring of 60 children and their mothers forcadmium, phthalates and cotinine in urine and formercury in scalp hair in two sampling areas (urban, rural).Results: Both small countries achieved the preset goalsfor recruitment, sample collection and analysis, whichallowed for the first time the assessment of children’sand mothers’ exposures to the selected chemicals incomparison with other countries. Capacity buildingwas accomplished and communication actions wereparticularly effective, with both countries taking advantageof their small size to access participants, policy makers,other stakeholders and the press. Time constrains andrequirements for capacity building were limiting factors.Conclusion: The COPHES European Protocol for HBMsurveys is attainable in small countries. The followingelements are fundamental in the design of a harmonizedEuropean HBM program, from the perspective of smallcountries: (a) consultation with and active involvementof the implementing countries, (b) flexibility for nationaldecisions, while not compromising harmonization, (c)elaboration of standardized methods, procedures anddocuments (d) quality assurance mechanisms, (e) meansof training and support