Human Biomonitoring Data Enables Evidence-Informed Policy to Reduce Internal Exposure to Persistent Organic Compounds: A Case Study

Ann Colles, Dries Coertjens, Bert Morrens, Elly Den Hond, Melissa Paulussen, Liesbeth Bruckers, Eva Govarts, Adrian Covaci, Gudrun Koppen, Kim Croes, Vera Nelen, Nicolas Van Larebeke, Stefaan De Henauw, Tine Fierens, Griet Van Gestel, Hana Chovanova, Maja Mampaey, Karen Van Campenhout, Ilse Loots, Willy Baeyens and Greet Schoeters
Additional contact information
Ann Colles: VITO Health, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
Dries Coertjens: Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Bert Morrens: Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Elly Den Hond: Provincial Institute of Hygiene, Kronenburgstraat 45, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Melissa Paulussen: Provincial Institute of Hygiene, Kronenburgstraat 45, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Liesbeth Bruckers: i-BioStat, Data Science Institute, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
Eva Govarts: VITO Health, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
Adrian Covaci: Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
Gudrun Koppen: VITO Health, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
Kim Croes: Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Vera Nelen: Provincial Institute of Hygiene, Kronenburgstraat 45, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Nicolas Van Larebeke: Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Stefaan De Henauw: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, C. Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Tine Fierens: Flanders Environment Agency (VMM), Dr. De Moorstraat 24, 9300 Aalst, Belgium
Griet Van Gestel: Public Waste Agency of Flanders (OVAM), Stationsstraat 110, 2800 Mechelen, Belgium
Hana Chovanova: Flemish Ministry of Welfare, Public Health and Family, Flemish Agency for Care and Health, Environmental Health Section, Koning Albert-II laan 35 bus 33, 1030 Brussels, Belgium
Maja Mampaey: Department of Environment & Spatial Development, Flemish Planning Bureau for the Environment and Spatial Development, Koning Albert-II laan 20 bus 8, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Karen Van Campenhout: Department of Environment & Spatial Development, Flemish Planning Bureau for the Environment and Spatial Development, Koning Albert-II laan 20 bus 8, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Ilse Loots: Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Willy Baeyens: Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Greet Schoeters: VITO Health, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-21

Abstract: Human biomonitoring (HBM) monitors levels of environmental pollutants in human samples, which often is a topic of concern for residents near industrially contaminated sites (ICSs). Around an ICS area in Menen (Belgium), including a (former) municipal waste incinerator and a metal recovery plant, increasing environmental concentrations of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were observed, causing growing concern among residents and authorities. The local community succeeded in convincing the responsible authorities to investigate the problem and offer research funding. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were measured in two consecutive HBM studies (2002–2006 and 2010–2011), in the context of the Flemish Environment and Health Study (FLEHS), as well as in soil and locally produced food. Meanwhile, local authorities discouraged consumption of locally produced food in a delineated area of higher exposure risk. Ultimately, HBM and environmental data enabled tailored dietary recommendations. This article demonstrates the usefulness of HBM in documenting the body burdens of residents near the ICS, identifying exposure routes, evaluating remediating actions and providing information for tailored policy strategies aiding to further exposure reduction. It also highlights the role of the local stakeholders as an example of community-based participatory research and how such an approach can create societal support for research and policy.

Keywords: POPs; PCBs; dioxins; human biomonitoring; science-to-policy; participation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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