Indoor air pollution inequalities among children and adolescents in Germany: an analysis of repeated cross-sectional data from GerES and KiGGS.

Indoor air pollution may harm child health. Indoor air pollution inequalities among children and adolescents is under-researched. We analyzed associations between equivalized disposable income, socioeconomic status, and history of migration with benzene, toluene, xylene, limonene, and formaldehyde among children and adolescents in Germany.

Developing human biomonitoring as a 21st century toolbox within the European exposure science strategy 2020-2030.

Human biomonitoring (HBM) is a crucial approach for exposure assessment, as emphasised in the European Commission's Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS). HBM can help to improve chemical policies in five major key areas: (1) assessing internal and aggregate exposure in different target populations; 2) assessing exposure to chemicals across life stages; (3) assessing combined exposure to multiple chemicals (mixtures); (4) bridging regulatory silos on aggregate exposure; and (5) enhancing the effectiveness of risk management measures. In this strategy paper we propose a vision and a strategy for the use of HBM in chemical regulations and public health policy in Europe and beyond.

Social Inequalities in the Association between Social Infrastructure and Mental Health: An Observational Cross-Sectional Analysis of Children and Adolescents in Germany.

The mental health (MH) of especially children and adolescents with low socioeconomic status (SES) benefits from access to greenspaces. This study aimed at investigating social inequalities in the association between several types of social infrastructure (SI) and MH in children and adolescents. The sample comprised 12,624 children and adolescents of the KiGGS Wave 2 study (2014-2017).

Long-term monitoring of mercury in young German adults: Time trend analyses from the German Environmental Specimen Bank, 1995-2018.

As highlighted in the Minamata Convention, Mercury (Hg) in its various forms poses a substantial risk to human health and the environment. The health relevance of Hg is also recognized by the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU), which classifies Hg as a priority substance, since considerable knowledge and data gaps on Hg exposure levels and their changes over time still exist in Europe. The German Environmental Specimen Bank (German ESB) provides valuable policy relevant data and long-term trends of substance exposure on a national level for international comparison and evaluation.

Formaldehyde, aliphatic aldehydes (C -C ), furfural, and benzaldehyde in the residential indoor air of children and adolescents during the German Environmental Survey 2014-2017 (GerES V).

Indoor air concentrations of formaldehyde, furfural, benzaldehyde, and 11 aliphatic aldehydes (C -C ) were measured in residences of 639 participants in the German Environmental Survey for Children and Adolescents 2014-2017 (GerES V). Sampling was conducted using passive samplers over periods of approximately seven days for each participant. The most abundant compounds were formaldehyde and hexanal with median concentrations of 24.

The German Environmental Survey for Children and Adolescents 2014-2017 (GerES V) - Study population, response rates and representativeness.

The German Environmental Survey (GerES) is a population-representative, cross-sectional study on environmental exposures of the general population of Germany. GerES has repeatedly been conducted since 1985 by the German Environment Agency (UBA) in close collaboration with the Health Interview and Examination Surveys of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). In the German Environmental Survey for Children and adolescents 2014-2017 (GerES V) pollutants and other environmental stressors were measured in human samples as well as in the homes of 3- to 17-year-old children and adolescents.

Glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in urine of children and adolescents in Germany - Human biomonitoring results of the German Environmental Survey 2014-2017 (GerES V).

Since the 1970s, glyphosate has become the most used herbicide of the world. The general population is ubiquitously exposed to glyphosate. Its long-term toxicity, carcinogenic potential and other health effects are controversially discussed.

Socioeconomic Differences in Walking Time of Children and Adolescents to Public Green Spaces in Urban Areas-Results of the German Environmental Survey (2014-2017).

Public green spaces have a high potential for a positive impact on people's health and wellbeing, especially in urban areas. Studies on environmental justice indicate socially unequal access possibilities to urban green spaces. This article presents results on associations between individual socioeconomic position (SEP) and walking time from home to public green spaces in young people living in urban areas with more than 20,000 inhabitants in Germany.

Long-term time trend of lead exposure in young German adults - Evaluation of more than 35 Years of data of the German Environmental Specimen Bank.

Lead is a ubiquitous pollutant with well-known effects on human health. As there is no lower toxicological threshold for lead in blood and since data gaps on lead exposure still exist in many European countries, HBM data on lead is of high importance. To address this, the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative HBM4EU classified lead as a priority substance.

Sensitive and selective quantification of glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in urine of the general population by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Glyphosate is the highest volume herbicide used worldwide, and its main biodegradation product is aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), both are listed as priority substances in the Human Biomonitoring for Europe (HBM4EU) initiative which aims at improving policy by filling knowledge gaps by targeted research. The objective of the current study was to advance the sensitivity of an existing gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analytical method to measure environmental population exposures. A 50% lower limit of quantification of 0.

Metabolites of the substitute plasticiser Di-(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHTP) in urine of children and adolescents investigated in the German Environmental Survey GerES V, 2014-2017.

Metabolites of di-(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHTP), a substitute for ortho-based phthalate plasticisers like di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), were analysed in 2112 first-morning void urine samples from children and adolescents aged 3-17 years, participating in the population representative German Environmental Survey on Children and Adolescents, GerES V 2014-2017. The major metabolite 5cx-MEPTP was detected in all urine samples with a geometric mean (GM) of 7.39 μg/L, with highest levels in the mg/L range.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in blood plasma - Results of the German Environmental Survey for children and adolescents 2014-2017 (GerES V).

The 5th cycle of the German Environmental Survey (GerES V) investigated the internal human exposure of children and adolescents aged 3-17 years in Germany to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The fieldwork of the population-representative GerES V was performed from 2014 to 2017. In total, 1109 blood plasma samples were analysed for 12 PFAS including perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS).

2-Mercaptobenzothiazole in urine of children and adolescents in Germany - Human biomonitoring results of the German Environmental Survey 2014-2017 (GerES V).

2-Mercaptobenzothiazole (2-MBT) is widely used as a vulcanisation accelerator and is contained in many products made from natural rubber, e.g. car tires.

The methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone metabolite N-methylmalonamic acid (NMMA) in urine of children and adolescents in Germany - Human biomonitoring results of the German Environmental Survey 2014-2017 (GerES V).

Mixtures of methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone are used as biocides in cosmetics, cleaning agents, and water-based paint. A biomonitoring method to evaluate exposure to these compounds was developed using N-methylmalonamic acid (NMMA), the main metabolite of both, methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone, as the exposure biomarker. First-morning void urine samples (N = 2078) of 3- to 17-year-old children and adolescents living in Germany were analysed for concentrations of NMMA in the population representative German Environmental Survey for Children and Adolescents GerES V (2014-2017).

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in urine of children and adolescents in Germany - human biomonitoring results of the German Environmental Survey 2014-2017 (GerES V).

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) mainly originate from incomplete combustion of organic materials and are, among other sources, found in traffic emissions, smoked or barbecued food, leafy vegetables, and tobacco smoke. Some PAH or their metabolites are hazardous for health and classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction. Urine samples from 3- to 17-year-old children and adolescents living in Germany were analysed for concentrations of metabolites of the PAH fluorene, naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene in the population-representative German Environmental Survey for Children and Adolescents GerES V (2014-2017).

Phthalate metabolites in urine of children and adolescents in Germany. Human biomonitoring results of the German Environmental Survey GerES V, 2014-2017.

During the population representative German Environmental Survey of Children and Adolescents (GerES V, 2014-2017) 2256 first-morning void urine samples from 3 to 17 years old children and adolescents were analysed for 21 metabolites of 11 different phthalates (di-methyl phthalate (DMP), di-ethyl phthalate (DEP), butylbenzyl phthalate (BBzP), di-iso-butyl phthalate (DiBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), di-cyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP), di-n-pentyl phthalate (DnPeP), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-iso-nonyl phthalate (DiNP), di-iso-decyl phthalate (DiDP) and di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP)). Metabolites of DMP, DEP, BBzP, DiBP, DnBP, DEHP, DiNP and DiDP were found in 97%-100% of the participants, DCHP and DnPeP in 6%, and DnOP in none of the urine samples. Geometric means (GM) were highest for metabolites of DiBP (MiBP: 26.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and organochlorine pesticides (OCP) in blood plasma - Results of the German environmental survey for children and adolescents 2014-2017 (GerES V).

The German Environmental Survey for Children and Adolescents 2014-2017 (GerES V) investigated the current internal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and organochlorine pesticides (OCP). These analyses were carried out for a population-representative sub-sample of 1135 children and adolescents (aged 3-17 years) of all 2394 GerES V participants. Blood plasma samples were analyzed for seven indicator PCB (PCB 28, PCB 52, PCB 101, PCB 118, PCB 138, PCB 153 and PCB 180) and selected OCP (hexachlorobenzene, three hexachlorocyclohexane isomers, 4,4'-DDT, 4,4'-DDD and 4,4'-DDE).

Building a European exposure science strategy.

Exposure information is a critical element in various regulatory and non-regulatory frameworks in Europe and elsewhere. Exposure science supports to ensure safe environments, reduce human health risks, and foster a sustainable future. However, increasing diversity in regulations and the lack of a professional identity as exposure scientists currently hamper developing the field and uptake into European policy.

Hexamoll® DINCH and DPHP metabolites in urine of children and adolescents in Germany. Human biomonitoring results of the German Environmental Survey GerES V, 2014-2017.

The production and use of the plasticisers Hexamoll® DINCH (di-(iso-nonyl)-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate) and DPHP (di-(2-propylheptyl) phthalate) have increased after both chemicals were introduced into the market in the early 2000s as substitutes for restricted high molecular weight phthalates. During the population representative German Environmental Survey (GerES) of Children and Adolescents (GerES V, 2014-2017), we collected urine samples and measured the concentrations of DINCH and DPHP metabolites in 2228 and in a subsample of 516 participants, respectively. We detected DINCH and DPHP metabolites in 100% and 62% of the 3-17 years old children and adolescents, respectively.

Benefits of cooperation among large-scale cohort studies and human biomonitoring projects in environmental health research: An exercise in blood lead analysis of the Environment and Child Health International Birth Cohort Group.

A number of prospective cohort studies are ongoing worldwide to investigate the impact of foetal and neonatal exposures to chemical substances on child health. To assess multiple exposure (mixture) effects and low prevalence health outcomes it is useful to pool data from several studies and conduct mega-data-analysis. To discuss a path towards data harmonization, representatives from several large-scale birth cohort studies and a biomonitoring programme formed a collaborative group, the Environment and Child Health International Birth Cohort Group (ECHIBCG).

Trends in characteristics of 24-h urine samples and their relevance for human biomonitoring studies - 20 years of experience in the German Environmental Specimen Bank.

To document trends in human exposure to environmental pollutants, the German Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB) has been routinely collecting and archiving 24-h urine samples from young adults at four sampling sites in Germany on an annual basis. For the purpose of normalizing measured analyte concentrations, urinary creatinine (UC), specific gravity (SG), conductivity (CON), and total urine volume (UV) of 24-h urine samples have also been recorded. These parameters are however susceptible to variation over time, as well as within/among participants and normalization against them can thus affect the interpretation of data regarding exposure to environmental pollutants.

Human biomonitoring reference values: Differences and similarities between approaches for identifying unusually high exposure of pollutants in humans.

In exposure and risk assessment, the indication of unusually high exposure levels in humans to chemicals has been considered as an important objective for decades. To realize this objective, reference values (RV) need to be derived. However, while there is a tendency towards using the 95th percentile as a basis for deriving these reference values there is still no consensus.

Phthalate metabolites in 24-h urine samples of the German Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB) from 1988 to 2015 and a comparison with US NHANES data from 1999 to 2012.

The German Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB) continuously collects 24-h urine samples since the early 1980s in Germany. In this study we analyzed 300 urine samples from the years 2007 to 2015 for 21 phthalate metabolites (representing exposure to 11 parent phthalates) and combined the data with two previous retrospective measurement campaigns (1988 to 2003 and 2002 to 2008). The combined dataset comprised 1162 24-h urine samples spanning the years 1988 to 2015.