Conceptual framework for a Danish human biomonitoring program.
The aim of this paper is to present the conceptual framework for a Danish human biomonitoring (HBM) program. The EU and national science-policy interface, that is fundamental for a realization of the national and European environment and human health strategies, is discussed, including the need for a structured and integrated environmental and human health surveillance program at national level. In Denmark, the initiative to implement such activities has been taken. The proposed framework of the Danish monitoring program constitutes four scientific expert groups, i.e. i. Prioritization of the strategy for the monitoring program, ii. Collection of human samples, iii. Analysis and data management and iv. Dissemination of results produced within the program. This paper presents the overall framework for data requirements and information flow in the integrated environment and health surveillance program. The added value of an HBM program, and in this respect the objectives of national and European HBM programs supporting environmental health integrated policy-decisions and human health targeted policies, are discussed.In Denmark environmental monitoring has been prioritized by extensive surveillance systems of pollution in oceans, lakes and soil as well as ground and drinking water. Human biomonitoring has only taken place in research programs and few incidences of e.g. lead contamination. However an arctic program for HBM has been in force for decades and from the preparations of the EU-pilot project on HBM increasing political interest in a Danish program has developed.
National Environmental Research Institute, University of Aarhus, Department of Policy Analysis, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark. mth@dmu.dk
Marianne
M
Thomsen
Lisbeth E
LE
Knudsen
Katrin
K
Vorkamp
Marie
M
Frederiksen
Hanne
H
Bach
Eva Cecilie
EC
Bonefeld-Jorgensen
Suresch
S
Rastogi
Patrik
P
Fauser
Teddy
T
Krongaard
Peter Borgen
PB
Sorensen
D015415:Biomarkers; D003718:Denmark; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D016730:Program Development
D015415:Biomarkers