[Human Biomonitoring for Europe (HBM4EU)-first insights into the results of the initiative]. / Human-Biomonitoring für Europa (HBM4EU) ­ erste Einblicke in die Ergebnisse der Initiative.

Human biomonitoring measures the internal exposure of humans to chemicals from various sources, such as food, everyday objects, or the air we breathe, by analyzing blood and urine, for example. To promote and coordinate human biomonitoring in Europe, the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) was launched in 2017 and involves 30 countries, the European Environment Agency, and the European Commission. The project was completed in June 2022.Comparable and reliable exposure data were collected and consistently assessed for a wide range of environmental chemicals. Other important achievements of the initiative were the establishment of a quality assurance program, a concept for standardizing future HBM studies, a common strategy for deriving health-based guidance values (HBM-GVs), and the establishment of national committees in the partner countries. The exposure data generated are accessible via the Information Platform for Chemical Monitoring (IPCHEM) and the EU HBM Dashboard. Publications are freely available through the HBM4EU online library.Overall, the results show that exposures of the EU population to many chemicals are too high, such as phthalates and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), and that policy action is still needed. The knowledge generated in the HBM4EU project can support policymakers in improving chemical, environment, and health policies.

Implementation and coordination of an ethics framework in HBM4EU - Experiences and reflections.

Human biomonitoring involves the use of human samples and data to investigate exposure to environmental chemicals and their impact on human health. HBM4EU developed a coordinated and harmonized approach involving 29 countries in Europe plus Israel. Addressing ethical issues has been an indispensable prerequisite, from the application phase, grant agreement, project performance to the closing of the project. HBM4EU has established a better understanding of the ethics in such projects and the need for a standardised way of reporting and handling of ethics and data exchange, securing compliance with ethics standards, transparency, transferability and sustainability. The main reflections were: KNOWLEDGE: Ethics awareness, norms and practices are dynamic and increased throughout the project, much learning and experience is achieved by practice and dialogue. ATTITUDE: Rules and standards were very diversely known and needed to adhere to local practices. ASSISTANCE: Good results achieved from webinars, training, help desk, and individual consultations. STANDARDISATION: Was achieved by templates and naming convention across documents. MANAGEMENT: The establishment of the SharePoint directory with uploading of all requested documents assisted collaboration and exchange. Also, a designated task for ethics within the management/coordination work package and the enthusiasm of the task leader were essential. COMPLIANCE: Some, but not all partners were very good at complying with deadlines and standards. TRANSFERABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY: All documents are archived in the SharePoint directory while a system assuring updating is recommended. TRANSPARENCY: Assured by public access to annual ethics reports. The ethics reports bridged to the annual work plans (AWPs). EVALUATION: The Ethics Check by the Commission was successful.

Simulated bacterial infection disrupts the circadian fluctuation of immune cells in wrinkle-lipped bats (Chaerephon plicatus).

BACKGROUND: Leukocyte concentrations follow a circadian pattern in mammals, with elevated values at times of potential contact with pathogens and parasites. We hypothesized that this pattern is disturbed after an immune challenge. METHODS: In Thailand, we captured wrinkle-lipped bats (Chaerephon plicatus), when they returned to their colony at dawn. We challenged half of the animals (experimental group) with bacterial lipopolysaccharides and treated the others only with the carrier liquid (control group). We then compared body mass changes and differences in circulating immune cell counts at 8 h post-treatment. RESULTS: In experimental animals, we observed an increase in total leukocyte and neutrophil numbers of 17% and 95%, respectively. In control animals, concentrations of leukocytes decreased by 44% and those of neutrophils remained constant. Experimental treatment had no effect on lymphocytes, yet changes in eosinophil numbers were explained by sex. Eosinophils decreased by 66% in females and by 62% in males. Basophils and monocytes were rarest among all observed cell types and analysis was either impossible because of low numbers or yielded no significant effects, respectively. DISCUSSION: Our findings show that a simulated bacterial infection triggered a neutrophil-associated immune response in wrinkle-lipped bats, indicating a disruption of the diurnal fluctuation of immune cells. Our study suggests that bats exhibit circadian rhythms in immune cell counts. The magnitude of these fluctuations may vary across species according to specific-specific infection risks associated with colony sizes or specific roosting habits.