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Safarlou CW, Jongsma KR, Vermeulen R, Bredenoord AL. The ethical aspects of exposome research: a systematic review. EXPOSOME 2023; 3:osad004. [PMID: 37745046 PMCID: PMC7615114 DOI: 10.1093/exposome/osad004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, exposome research has been put forward as the next frontier for the study of human health and disease. Exposome research entails the analysis of the totality of environmental exposures and their corresponding biological responses within the human body. Increasingly, this is operationalized by big-data approaches to map the effects of internal as well as external exposures using smart sensors and multiomics technologies. However, the ethical implications of exposome research are still only rarely discussed in the literature. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of the academic literature regarding both the exposome and underlying research fields and approaches, to map the ethical aspects that are relevant to exposome research. We identify five ethical themes that are prominent in ethics discussions: the goals of exposome research, its standards, its tools, how it relates to study participants, and the consequences of its products. Furthermore, we provide a number of general principles for how future ethics research can best make use of our comprehensive overview of the ethical aspects of exposome research. Lastly, we highlight three aspects of exposome research that are most in need of ethical reflection: the actionability of its findings, the epidemiological or clinical norms applicable to exposome research, and the meaning and action-implications of bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caspar W. Safarlou
- Department of Global Public Health and Bioethics, Julius Center for
Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The
Netherlands
| | - Karin R. Jongsma
- Department of Global Public Health and Bioethics, Julius Center for
Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The
Netherlands
| | - Roel Vermeulen
- Department of Global Public Health and Bioethics, Julius Center for
Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The
Netherlands
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Utrecht University,
Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Annelien L. Bredenoord
- Department of Global Public Health and Bioethics, Julius Center for
Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The
Netherlands
- Erasmus School of Philosophy, Erasmus University Rotterdam,
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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2
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Zare Jeddi M, Hopf NB, Louro H, Viegas S, Galea KS, Pasanen-Kase R, Santonen T, Mustieles V, Fernandez MF, Verhagen H, Bopp SK, Antignac JP, David A, Mol H, Barouki R, Audouze K, Duca RC, Fantke P, Scheepers P, Ghosh M, Van Nieuwenhuyse A, Lobo Vicente J, Trier X, Rambaud L, Fillol C, Denys S, Conrad A, Kolossa-Gehring M, Paini A, Arnot J, Schulze F, Jones K, Sepai O, Ali I, Brennan L, Benfenati E, Cubadda F, Mantovani A, Bartonova A, Connolly A, Slobodnik J, Bruinen de Bruin Y, van Klaveren J, Palmen N, Dirven H, Husøy T, Thomsen C, Virgolino A, Röösli M, Gant T, von Goetz N, Bessems J. Developing human biomonitoring as a 21st century toolbox within the European exposure science strategy 2020-2030. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 168:107476. [PMID: 36067553 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Human biomonitoring (HBM) is a crucial approach for exposure assessment, as emphasised in the European Commission's Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS). HBM can help to improve chemical policies in five major key areas: (1) assessing internal and aggregate exposure in different target populations; 2) assessing exposure to chemicals across life stages; (3) assessing combined exposure to multiple chemicals (mixtures); (4) bridging regulatory silos on aggregate exposure; and (5) enhancing the effectiveness of risk management measures. In this strategy paper we propose a vision and a strategy for the use of HBM in chemical regulations and public health policy in Europe and beyond. We outline six strategic objectives and a roadmap to further strengthen HBM approaches and increase their implementation in the regulatory risk assessment of chemicals to enhance our understanding of exposure and health impacts, enabling timely and targeted policy interventions and risk management. These strategic objectives are: 1) further development of sampling strategies and sample preparation; 2) further development of chemical-analytical HBM methods; 3) improving harmonisation throughout the HBM research life cycle; 4) further development of quality control / quality assurance throughout the HBM research life cycle; 5) obtain sustained funding and reinforcement by legislation; and 6) extend target-specific communication with scientists, policymakers, citizens and other stakeholders. HBM approaches are essential in risk assessment to address scientific, regulatory and societal challenges. HBM requires full and strong support from the scientific and regulatory domain to reach its full potential in public and occupational health assessment and in regulatory decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Zare Jeddi
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), the Netherlands.
| | - Nancy B Hopf
- Centre for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Henriqueta Louro
- National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Department of Human Genetics, Lisbon and ToxOmics - Centre for Toxicogenomics and Human Health, NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Susana Viegas
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1600-560 Lisbon, Portugal; Comprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC), 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Karen S Galea
- Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Research Avenue North, Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14 4AP, UK
| | - Robert Pasanen-Kase
- State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Labour Directorate Section Chemicals and Work (ABCH), Switzerland
| | - Tiina Santonen
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH), P.O. Box 40, FI-00032 Työterveyslaitos, Finland
| | - Vicente Mustieles
- University of Granada, Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM), School of Medicine, Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, Granada, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mariana F Fernandez
- University of Granada, Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM), School of Medicine, Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, Granada, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Hans Verhagen
- University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | | | - Arthur David
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Hans Mol
- Wageningen Food Safety Research - part of Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Robert Barouki
- Université Paris Cité, T3S, Inserm Unit 1124, 45 rue des Saints Pères, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Karine Audouze
- Université Paris Cité, T3S, Inserm Unit 1124, 45 rue des Saints Pères, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Radu-Corneliu Duca
- Department of Health Protection, Laboratoire national de santé (LNS), 1, Rue Louis Rech, 3555 Dudelange, Luxembourg; Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Peter Fantke
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Paul Scheepers
- Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Manosij Ghosh
- Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - An Van Nieuwenhuyse
- Department of Health Protection, Laboratoire national de santé (LNS), 1, Rue Louis Rech, 3555 Dudelange, Luxembourg; Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joana Lobo Vicente
- EEA - European Environment Agency, Kongens Nytorv 6, 1050 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Xenia Trier
- SPF - Santé Publique France, Environmental and Occupational Health Division, France
| | - Loïc Rambaud
- SPF - Santé Publique France, Environmental and Occupational Health Division, France
| | - Clémence Fillol
- SPF - Santé Publique France, Environmental and Occupational Health Division, France
| | - Sebastien Denys
- SPF - Santé Publique France, Environmental and Occupational Health Division, France
| | - André Conrad
- German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt), Dessau-Roßlau/Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Alicia Paini
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | - Jon Arnot
- ARC Arnot Research and Consulting, Inc., Toronto ONM4M 1W4, Canada
| | - Florian Schulze
- European Center for Environmental Medicine, Weserstr. 165, 12045 Berlin, Germany
| | - Kate Jones
- HSE - Health and Safety Executive, Harpur Hill, Buxton SK17 9JN, UK
| | | | | | - Lorraine Brennan
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Emilio Benfenati
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156 Milano, Italy
| | - Francesco Cubadda
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità - National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Mantovani
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità - National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Alena Bartonova
- NILU Norwegian Institute for Air Research, 2027 Kjeller, Norway
| | - Alison Connolly
- Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies, Physics, School of Natural Science and the Ryan Institute, University of Galway, University Road, Galway H91 CF50, Ireland
| | - Jaroslav Slobodnik
- NORMAN Association, Rue Jacques Taffanel - Parc Technologique ALATA, 60550 Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
| | - Yuri Bruinen de Bruin
- Commission, Joint Research Centre, Directorate for Space, Security and Migration, Geel, Belgium
| | - Jacob van Klaveren
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), the Netherlands
| | - Nicole Palmen
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), the Netherlands
| | - Hubert Dirven
- Department of Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Trine Husøy
- Department of Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Cathrine Thomsen
- Department of Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ana Virgolino
- Environmental Health Behaviour Lab, Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Laboratório Associado TERRA, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Martin Röösli
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Tim Gant
- Center for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, UK
| | | | - Jos Bessems
- VITO HEALTH, Flemish Institute for Technological Research, 2400 Mol, Belgium
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Risk Perception of Air Pollution: A Systematic Review Focused on Particulate Matter Exposure. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17176424. [PMID: 32899325 PMCID: PMC7504632 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17176424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The adverse health effects of exposure to air pollutants, notably to particulate matter (PM), are well-known, as well as the association with measured or estimated concentration levels. The role of perception can be relevant in exploring effects and pollution control actions. The purpose of this study was to explore studies that analyse people’s perception, together with the measurement of air pollution, in order to elucidate the relationship between them. We conducted a systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. In March 2020, PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus databases were explored in an attempt to search for studies published from 2000 to 2020. The review included 38 studies, most of which were conducted in China (n = 13) and the United States (n = 11) and published over the last four years (n = 26). Three studies were multicenter investigations, while five articles were based on a national-level survey. The air quality (AQ) was assessed by monitoring stations (n = 24) or dispersion models (n = 7). Many studies were population questionnaire-based, air monitoring and time-series studies, and web-based investigations. A direct association between exposure and perception emerged in 20 studies. This systematic review has shown that most of the studies establish a relationship between risk perception measurement. A broad spectrum of concepts and notions related to perception also emerged, which is undoubtedly an indicator of the wealth of available knowledge and is promising for future research.
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Stahl BC, Rainey S, Harris E, Fothergill BT. The role of ethics in data governance of large neuro-ICT projects. J Am Med Inform Assoc 2019; 25:1099-1107. [PMID: 29767726 PMCID: PMC6077829 DOI: 10.1093/jamia/ocy040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective We describe current practices of ethics-related data governance in large neuro-ICT projects, identify gaps in current practice, and put forward recommendations on how to collaborate ethically in complex regulatory and normative contexts. Methods We undertake a survey of published principles of data governance of large neuro-ICT projects. This grounds an approach to a normative analysis of current data governance approaches. Results Several ethical issues are well covered in the data governance policies of neuro-ICT projects, notably data protection and attribution of work. Projects use a set of similar policies to ensure users behave appropriately. However, many ethical issues are not covered at all. Implementation and enforcement of policies remain vague. Conclusions The data governance policies we investigated indicate that the neuro-ICT research community is currently close-knit and that shared assumptions are reflected in infrastructural aspects. This explains why many ethical issues are not explicitly included in data governance policies at present. With neuro-ICT research growing in scale, scope, and international involvement, these shared assumptions should be made explicit and reflected in data governance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd Carsten Stahl
- Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
| | - Stephen Rainey
- Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Emma Harris
- Communications Department, Max Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - B Tyr Fothergill
- Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
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5
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Fiddicke U, Becker K, Schwedler G, Seiwert M, Joas R, Joas A, Biot P, Aerts D, Casteleyn L, Dumez B, Castaño A, Esteban M, Angerer J, Koch HM, Schoeters G, Den Hond E, Sepai O, Exley K, Knudsen LE, Horvat M, Bloemen L, Katsonouri A, Hadjipanayis A, Cerna M, Krsková A, Jensen JF, Nielsen JKS, Rudnai P, Közepésy S, Gutleb AC, Fischer ME, Ligocka D, Kamińska J, Reis MF, Namorado S, Lupsa IR, Gurzau AE, Halzlová K, Mazej D, Tratnik JS, Rivas TC, Gómez S, Berglund M, Larsson K, Lehmann A, Crettaz P, Dewolf MC, Burns D, Kellegher A, Kolossa-Gehring M. Lessons learnt on recruitment and fieldwork from a pilot European human biomonitoring survey. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2015; 141:15-23. [PMID: 25454101 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2014.08.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2014] [Revised: 08/12/2014] [Accepted: 08/15/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Within the European Environment and Health Action Plan an initiative to establish a coherent human biomonitoring approach in Europe was started. The project COPHES (COnsortium to Perform Human biomonitoring on a European Scale ) developed recommendations for a harmonized conduct of a human biomonitoring (HBM) survey which came into action as the pilot study DEMOCOPHES (DEMOnstration of a study to COordinate and Perform Human biomonitoring on a European Scale). Seventeen European countries conducted a survey with harmonized instruments for, inter alia, recruitment, fieldwork and sampling, in autumn/winter 2011/2012. Based on the countries' experiences of conducting the pilot study, following lessons learnt were compiled: the harmonized fieldwork instruments (basic questionnaire, urine and hair sampling) turned out to be very valuable for future HBM surveys on the European scale. A school approach was favoured by most of the countries to recruit school-aged children according to the established guidelines and country specific experiences. To avoid a low participation rate, intensive communication with the involved institutions and possible participants proved to be necessary. The communication material should also include information on exclusion criteria and offered incentives. Telephone contact to the participants the day before fieldwork during the survey can prevent the forgetting of appointments and first morning urine samples. To achieve comparable results on the European scale, training of interviewers in all issues of recruitment, fieldwork and sampling through information material and training sessions is crucial. A survey involving many European countries needs time for preparation and conduct. Materials for quality control prepared for all steps of recruitment, fieldwork and sampling proved to be important to warrant reliable results.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Pierre Biot
- Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Dominique Aerts
- Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | | | - Argelia Castaño
- Environmental Toxicology, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (CNSA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Esteban
- Environmental Toxicology, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (CNSA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jürgen Angerer
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance-Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany
| | - Holger M Koch
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance-Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany
| | - Greet Schoeters
- University of Antwerp, Belgium and Southern Denmark University, Denmark and Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Elly Den Hond
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Ovnair Sepai
- Public Health England, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Karen Exley
- Public Health England, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Louis Bloemen
- Environmental Health Science International, Hulst, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Milena Cerna
- National Institute of Public Health (NIPH), Prague, Czech Republic and Charles University, Third Faculty of Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Andrea Krsková
- National Institute of Public Health (NIPH), Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Peter Rudnai
- National Institute of Environmental Health (NIEH), Budapest, Hungary
| | - Szilvia Közepésy
- National Institute of Environmental Health (NIEH), Budapest, Hungary
| | - Arno C Gutleb
- Centre de Recherche Public-Gabriel Lippmann (CRP-GL), Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | | | - Danuta Ligocka
- Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine (NIOM), Lodz, Poland
| | - Joanna Kamińska
- Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine (NIOM), Lodz, Poland
| | - M Fátima Reis
- Institute of Preventive Medicine, Lisbon Faculty of Medicine (IMP/FML), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sónia Namorado
- Institute of Preventive Medicine, Lisbon Faculty of Medicine (IMP/FML), Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Anca E Gurzau
- Environmental Health Centre (EHC), Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Katarína Halzlová
- Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic (UVZ SR), Bratislava, Slovakia
| | | | | | - Teresa C Rivas
- Environmental Toxicology, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (CNSA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia Gómez
- Environmental Toxicology, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (CNSA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marika Berglund
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kristin Larsson
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andrea Lehmann
- Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), Berne, Switzerland
| | - Pierre Crettaz
- Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), Berne, Switzerland
| | | | - Damien Burns
- National Environmental Health Office, Health Service Executive, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Anne Kellegher
- Health Service Executive, Environmental Health Department, Leitrim, Ireland
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Exley K, Cano N, Aerts D, Biot P, Casteleyn L, Kolossa-Gehring M, Schwedler G, Castaño A, Angerer J, Koch HM, Esteban M, Schoeters G, Den Hond E, Horvat M, Bloemen L, Knudsen LE, Joas R, Joas A, Dewolf MC, Van de Mieroop E, Katsonouri A, Hadjipanayis A, Cerna M, Krskova A, Becker K, Fiddicke U, Seiwert M, Mørck TA, Rudnai P, Kozepesy S, Cullen E, Kellegher A, Gutleb AC, Fischer ME, Ligocka D, Kamińska J, Namorado S, Reis MF, Lupsa IR, Gurzau AE, Halzlova K, Jajcaj M, Mazej D, Tratnik JS, Huetos O, López A, Berglund M, Larsson K, Sepai O. Communication in a Human biomonitoring study: Focus group work, public engagement and lessons learnt in 17 European countries. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2015; 141:31-41. [PMID: 25499539 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2014.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2014] [Revised: 11/28/2014] [Accepted: 12/02/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
A communication strategy was developed by The Consortium to Perform Human Biomonitoring on a European Scale (COPHES), as part of its objectives to develop a framework and protocols to enable the collection of comparable human biomonitoring data throughout Europe. The framework and protocols were tested in the pilot study DEMOCOPHES (Demonstration of a study to Coordinate and Perform Human biomonitoring on a European Scale). The aims of the communication strategy were to raise awareness of human biomonitoring, encourage participation in the study and to communicate the study results and their public health significance. It identified the audiences and key messages, documented the procedure for dissemination of results and was updated as the project progressed. A communication plan listed the tools and materials such as press releases, flyers, recruitment letters and information leaflets required for each audience with a time frame for releasing them. Public insight research was used to evaluate the recruitment material, and the feedback was used to improve the documents. Dissemination of results was coordinated in a step by step approach by the participating countries within DEMOCOPHES, taking into account specific national messages according to the needs of each country. Participants received individual results, unless they refused to be informed, along with guidance on what the results meant. The aggregate results and policy recommendations were then communicated to the general public and stakeholders, followed by dissemination at European level. Several lessons were learnt that may assist other future human biomonitoring studies. Recruitment took longer than anticipated and so social scientists, to help with community engagement, should be part of the research team from the start. As a European study, involving multiple countries, additional considerations were needed for the numerous organisations, different languages, cultures, policies and priorities. Therefore, communication documents should be seen as templates with essential information clearly indicated and the option for each country to tailor the material to reflect these differences. Future studies should consider setting up multidisciplinary networks of medical professionals and communication experts, and holding training workshops to discuss the interpretation of results and risk communication. Publicity and wide dissemination of the results helped to raise awareness of human biomonitoring to the general public, policy makers and other key stakeholders. Effective and timely communication, at all stages of a study, is essential if the potential of human biomonitoring research to improve public health is to be realised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Exley
- Public Health England, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Chilton, Didcot, South Oxfordshire OX10 8BW, United Kingdom.
| | - Noemi Cano
- Independent TV Director and Communications Consultant, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dominique Aerts
- Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pierre Biot
- Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Argelia Castaño
- Environmental Toxicology, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jürgen Angerer
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance-Institute of the Ruhr-Universitat Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany
| | - Holger M Koch
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance-Institute of the Ruhr-Universitat Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany
| | - Marta Esteban
- Environmental Toxicology, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Greet Schoeters
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Environmental Risk and Health Unit, Belgium; University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Elly Den Hond
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Environmental Risk and Health Unit, Belgium
| | | | - Louis Bloemen
- Environmental Health Science International, Hulst, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | - Els Van de Mieroop
- Provincial Institute for Hygiene, Kronenburgstraat 45, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | | | - Milena Cerna
- National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Andrea Krskova
- National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | | | | | | | - Peter Rudnai
- National Institute of Environmental Health, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | | | | | - Arno C Gutleb
- Centre de Recherche Public Gabriel Lippmann, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | | | | | | | - Sónia Namorado
- Institute of Preventive Medicine, Lisbon Faculty of Medicine, Portugal
| | - M Fátima Reis
- Institute of Preventive Medicine, Lisbon Faculty of Medicine, Portugal
| | | | | | - Katarina Halzlova
- Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Michal Jajcaj
- Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | | | | | - Olga Huetos
- Environmental Toxicology, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana López
- Environmental Toxicology, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Ovnair Sepai
- Public Health England, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Chilton, Didcot, South Oxfordshire OX10 8BW, United Kingdom
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7
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Framework for the development and application of environmental biological monitoring guidance values. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2012; 63:453-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2012.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2011] [Revised: 05/21/2012] [Accepted: 06/01/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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8
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Knudsen LE, Merlo DF, Larsen AD. Workshop on ethics and communication in Copenhagen 11-13.3.2007. Environ Health 2008; 7 Suppl 1:S1. [PMID: 18541063 PMCID: PMC2423459 DOI: 10.1186/1476-069x-7-s1-s1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lisbeth E Knudsen
- Department of Environmental Health, Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Oester Farimagsgade 5, KD 1014K, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Ann Dyreborg Larsen
- Department of Environmental Health, Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Oester Farimagsgade 5, KD 1014K, Copenhagen, Denmark
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