|
|
Human biomonitoring - limitations and opportunities
Figenschou, Kristian ; Černá, Milena (advisor)
Human biomonitoring aims to measure the amount of certain substances in all aspects of the environment, how much of this that reach humans and in what way, and finally how this affects our health. In all aspects of this process lays challenges that must be overcome. When measuring substances in the environment, one must make sure that one is measuring the biomarker which gives the most precise results according to what one seeks to find. Dependent on the biomarker in question, multiple factors can potentially affect the measurements. When the most suitable biomarker has been found, one must make sure that all possible sources are located and taken into consideration, in order to provide a sufficient exposure assessment. The next challenge is to gather accurate epidemiologic data, and link this to the exposure in question, and make a reliable risk assessment. As the examples in this paper highlights, within each step are challenges, and possible limitations. For most substances, there are data gaps and incomplete understanding. There is now much work done globally, on how to further improve the process. Based on today's experiences and knowledge, new guidelines are put down. In Europe there was recently launched a program, that will coordinate the cooperation between the member states. Though it is already a...
|
|
|
Human biomonitoring - opportunities and limitations
Weissová, Iveta ; Černá, Milena (advisor)
Human biomonitoring is a term for colleting and evaluating data concerning the pollution of environment and its influence on human body. In the CR it is being conducted since 1994 and its main aim is to protect people's health. The most commonly observed pollutants are heavy metals, PCBs, dioxins, chlorinated pesticides and many others. These pollutants find their way to the environment mainly due to people's industrial and agricultural activities. Smoking is still a current issue that needs to be addressed and it is an activity (voluntarily or in case of passive smoking involuntarily practiced) that causes health damage. Due to human biomonitoring, or more precisely due to principles which are now its foundation, many shortcomings of former industrial activities were discovered. Among others, it leads to understanding "Itai-itai" disease and discovering the cause of events in Japanese bay "Minamata". Today, the industrial (but also other) activities worldwide are at a high level of development. Many chemicals are being used and the environment is still being threatened. Based on those facts it is necessary to continually monitor the presence of toxic (or potentially toxic) substances in the environment and to put forth an extra effort to prevent exposure to these substances. Human biomonitoring is also...
|
|
|
Human biomonitoring - limitations and opportunities
Figenschou, Kristian ; Černá, Milena (advisor)
Human biomonitoring aims to measure the amount of certain substances in all aspects of the environment, how much of this that reach humans and in what way, and finally how this affects our health. In all aspects of this process lays challenges that must be overcome. When measuring substances in the environment, one must make sure that one is measuring the biomarker which gives the most precise results according to what one seeks to find. Dependent on the biomarker in question, multiple factors can potentially affect the measurements. When the most suitable biomarker has been found, one must make sure that all possible sources are located and taken into consideration, in order to provide a sufficient exposure assessment. The next challenge is to gather accurate epidemiologic data, and link this to the exposure in question, and make a reliable risk assessment. As the examples in this paper highlights, within each step are challenges, and possible limitations. For most substances, there are data gaps and incomplete understanding. There is now much work done globally, on how to further improve the process. Based on today's experiences and knowledge, new guidelines are put down. In Europe there was recently launched a program, that will coordinate the cooperation between the member states. Though it is already a...
|
guest ::
