Combined chemical exposure using exposure loads on human biomonitoring data of the 4th Flemish Environment and Health Study (FLEHS-4)

To improve our understanding of internal exposure to multiple chemicals, the concept exposure load (EL) was used on human biomonitoring (HBM) data of the 4th FLEHS (Flemish Environment and Health Study; 2016-2020). The investigated chemicals were per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), bisphenols, phthalates and alternative plasticizers, flame retardants, pesticides, toxic metals, organochlorine compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The EL calculates "the number of chemicals to which individuals are internally exposed above a predefined threshold". In this study, the 50th and 90th percentile of each of the 45 chemicals were applied as thresholds for the EL calculations for 387 study participants. Around 20% of the participants were exposed to >27 chemicals above the P50 and to >6 chemicals above the P90 level. This shows that participants can be internally exposed to multiple chemicals in relatively high concentrations. When the chemical composition of the EL was considered, the variability between individuals was driven by some chemicals more than others. The variability of the chemical profiles at high exposure loads (EL-P90) was somewhat dominated by e.g. organochlorine chemicals, PFASs, phthalates, PAHs, organophosphate flame retardants, bisphenols (A & F), pesticides, metals, but to a lesser extent by brominated flame retardants, the organophosphorus flame retardants TCIPP & TBOEP, naphthalene and benzene, bisphenols S, B & Z, the pesticide 2,4-D, the phthalate DEP and alternative plasticizer DINCH. Associations between the EL and exposure determinants suggested determinants formerly associated with fat soluble chemicals, PFASs, bisphenols, and PAHs. This information adds to the knowledge needed to reduce the exposure by policymakers and citizens. However, a more in depth study is necessary to explore in detail the causes for the higher EL in some individuals. Some limitations in the EL concept are that a binary number is used for exposure above or below a threshold, while toxicity and residence time in the body are not accounted for and the sequence of exposure in different life stages is unknown. However, EL is a first useful step to get more insight in multiple chemical exposure in higher exposed subpopulations (relative to the rest of the sampled population).