title: Concept of the Flemish human biomonitoring programme.
abstract: Since 2002 a human biomonitoring network has been established in Flanders (Belgium) as part of a programme on environmental health surveillance. The human biomonitoring network should support environmental health policy by identifying priorities for further action. The first cycle of the programme (2002-2006) confirmed the hypotheses that living in areas with different environmental pressure is reflected in different loads of environmental chemicals in the residents. In the second cycle of the programme (2007-2011) the number of environmental chemicals for which human biomonitoring data were obtained was expanded substantially. The goal of the Flemish programme is to use and translate the scientific results into policy actions. Its further orientation in the second cycle to human biomonitoring in hot spots and sensitive age groups or susceptible persons with underlying complications (e.g. persons with diabetes) are linked to these goals. Interaction with stakeholders is embedded in the programme emphasizing transparency of the choices that are made and direct communication. The Flemish human biomonitoring programme is organized centrally with major involvement of research partners from different disciplines which allows engrafting environmental health research on the programme. One of the major focuses is the question whether combinations of pollutants in the general population are associated with biological effects. The objective of this paper is to review and discuss the options that were taken in the human biomonitoring programme in order to achieve its goals.
authors.affiliation: Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium. greet.schoeters@vito.be
authors.forename: Greet
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schoeters
authors.forename: Elly
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Den Hond
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colles
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Loots
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Morrens
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keune
authors.forename: Liesbeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bruckers
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nawrot
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sioen
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Coster
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Van Larebeke
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nelen
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van de Mieroop
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vrijens
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Croes
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goeyens
authors.forename: Willy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Baeyens
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001530:Belgium; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016730:Program Development; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015386:Hazardous Substances