Human Biomonitoring Programme for Ireland- HBM4IRE Study
HBM4IRE is a study funded by the Environment Protection Agency to explore the feasibility of setting up a permanent national Human biomonitoring (HBM) programme in Ireland.
HBM is a mechanism used to assess human exposure to hazardous substances harmful to health by measuring levels of chemicals in human samples such as blood, urine, hair, or breast milk. HBM can determine and identify trends in exposure to chemicals that are of growing concern for human health, providing information for regulatory agencies and policymakers, thus playing a decisive role in health prevention and risk management strategies.
HBM studies performed among the Irish population are limited and dispersed, making it difficult to determine the effectiveness of chemical risk management measures in Ireland. Several EU countries have well-established national HBM programmes demonstrating the potential for HBM to protect the environment and public health. Ireland currently does not have a national HBM programme.
The HBM4IRE study will evaluate the necessary criteria and present the first building blocks for establishing a national HBM programme, as well as the chemical prioritisation method and a chemical priority list specific to Ireland, identifying the opportunities and challenges for a national HBM programme.
We are inviting policymakers, regulators, and the public to participate in a (opens in a new window)survey to nominate chemicals and substance groups of concern in Ireland. To determine a priority list of chemicals of interest for Ireland, we will combine the chemicals nominated from the national survey with national chemical usage data. We will identify the best practices for monitoring these chemicals aligned to EU regulations and guidelines. We will host a stakeholder forum and workshop with national/ international experts in HBM and chemical exposure to explore practical and logistical requirements for setting up a national human biomonitoring programme.
A national HBM program will support government and regulatory authorities to monitor the levels of chemical exposure in the Irish populations over time better to qualify health risk assessment of national and international interest. If you live in Ireland and would like to (opens in a new window)participate in the national survey or would like further information on the study, please contact (opens in a new window)Dr Alison Connolly or (opens in a new window)Dr Richa Singh.
A Stakeholder Forum on Human Biomonitoring in Ireland was held at UCD on 11th October 2024. This invite-only event, part of the HBM4IRE Project funded by the EPA Ireland, explored the feasibility and potential of a national human biomonitoring programme in Ireland. We were joined by leading HBM researchers, offering attendees a unique opportunity to gain insights from top experts.
The presentations from the Forum can be accessed below.
Dr Marike Kolossa Gehring presentation
Dr Alison Connolly presentation
Prof Lisbeth E Knudsen presentation
