D5.10 - 3rd Phased Action Plan for policies, measures and suggestions for further research at domestic level, case studies
Creators: name: Crabbé, Ann
name: Coertjens, Dries
name: Loots, Ilse
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022

description: Examples of results of the aligned studies are visualised in the HBM4EU indicator reports. Indicators - based on the distributions of exposure data, their comparison with available healthbased guidance values and comparisons between regions and over time - allow for the monitoring of internal exposure and impact of chemicals as measured in several Human Biomonitoring studies in different EU-regions. These indicators are important new outputs of the HBM4EU project. In this deliverable, we report the reflections of policy makers and stakeholders and - in an early stage - on the relevance and usefulness of the indicators from their perspective. The process of developing this deliverable consisted of three stages. The key stage was that we sent out questionnaires to experts, policy makers and societal stakeholders. We asked them questions like: Which conclusions should be drawn from the indicators? What is seen as most relevant? Which information could be highlighted by the researchers in order to facilitate the uptake of results and implementation in policy terms or in managerial and professional practices? In short, we asked them to appraise the results on their relevance for policy and for society. In order to guide and structure the appraisal exercise, relevant criteria were defined in a preliminary stage, stage 1. To check the robustness of these criteria, a consultation was organised within the HBM4EU consortium to evaluate the criteria in terms of relevance, clarity and completeness. These criteria were mentioned in questionnaires that were sent to a diversity of experts, policy actors and societal stakeholders in key stage 2. In an additional stage 3, we asked participants of the online HBM4EU workshop on 30-31 March 2022 to fill out a shortened online questionnaire, also aiming to appraise the presented results of the HBM4EU aligned study on their relevance for policy and society. This workshop was organised by VITO, EEA and UAntwerpen and discussed the Aligned Study results for Cadmium, Bisphenols, Phthalates and DINCH, and PFAS. Results of this ’appraisal process’ (in stages 1, 2 and 3) are summarised in this deliverable. When comparing the signal value of the Aligned Study results on the substance groups discussed, we see that the results on PFAS triggers comparatively more societal concern than the other substances groups. This need for policy action is highly underlined during the workshop and in the online survey that was taken from the participants (stage 3). The discussion on Phthalates/DINCH is in another stage of policy-making. Phthalates have been regulated for a longer time, but from the monitoring results it becomes clear that phthalates can still be found in every single sample investigated. It looks like the policy actions that have been taken, are not effective enough. Based on the workshop discussions and the survey results, we draw the conclusion that Bisphenols, even after 30 years of attention and the implementation of extensive regulations, still provokes societal controversy. Respondents underline the need for more investment in solid risk assessment, as there still is uncertainty and controversy on the hazard thresholds. From all the substance groups discussed, Cadmium is the substance group of which respondents state that the Aligned Study only have “moderate” signal value. Cadmium is one of the ‘old’ chemicals: it had been regulated already a long time, but from monitoring results it appears that the levels have not dropped significantly over the last 10 years, which incites concern on potential health effects for several population groups.
description: {"references": ["Ares(2022)3491200 - 06/05/2022"]}