HBM in Human Risk Assessment and Health Impact Assessment: Translation of Results into Policy

Abstract

This presentation will focus on major activities in HBM4EU Work Package 5 'Translation of results into policy'. Starting point is a number of limitations with respect to the HBM (human biomonitoring) instrumentation but also in knowledge and acceptance of HBM in human risk assessment (HRA) and human health impact assessment (HIA). So there are quite some challenges related to it. Following a wide survey in the EU, needs were identified for the better inclusion of HBM in HRA and HIA practices. A first clear need are health-based HBM guidance values as indicative internal limit values, necessary to use exposure biomarker results in preliminary risk assessments. A second need is better regulatory incorporation (clearer legislative role) of HBM but also guidance on the ‘when’ and ‘how’ and the 'pros', 'cons' as well as caveats that go with the use of HBM in HRA and HIA. A third one is better communication with risk managers and policy makers, a topic for which easy understandable HBM-based indicators are being established. A last one is a stepwise approach on how to involve stakeholders in the scientific, policy and societal (citizens) arena in order to reach awareness, acceptance and generation of HBM data but also science- and participatory-approach based chemical policy recommendations.