EU Research on Environment and Health - Results from projects funded by the Fifth Framework Programme docx

EU Research on Environment and Health - Results from projects funded by the Fifth Framework Programme Price excluding VAT in Luxembourg: EUR 25 Over ninety multidisciplinary pan-European

EU Research on Environment and Health -

Results from projects funded by the Fifth Framework Programme

Price (excluding VAT) in Luxembourg: EUR 25

Over ninety multidisciplinary pan-European research projects dealing with environment

and health issues were funded by the European Commission’s Research

Directorate-General in the Fifth Framework Programme of Research (1998-2002) The results of

these projects have now become available and are presented in this catalogue The

projects presented addressed a multitude of issues ranging from health impacts of

exposure to electromagnetic fields to air pollution The results should be useful to many

stakeholders including the scientific community and policy makers

Interested in European research?

RTD info is our quarterly magazine keeping you in touch with main developments

(results, programmes, events, etc)

It is available in English, French and German A free sample copy or free subscription can be

obtained from:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Research

Information and Communication Unit

Unit I5 – Climate change and environmental risks

Scientific Officer: Tuomo Karjalainen (Tuomo.KARJALAINEN@ec.europa.eu)

SALES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

Publications for sale produced by the Office of Official Publications of the European Communities are available from our sales agents throughout the world

You can find the list of sales agents on the Publications Office website (http://publications.europa.eu) or you can apply for it by fax (352) 29 29-42758

Contact the sales agent of your choice and place your order

Directorate-General for Research

2007 Science, Economy and Society EUR 22816 EU

EU Research on

Environment and Health -

Results from projects funded by

the Fifth Framework Programme

ACKNOWLEDMENTS

The project related data was compiled for the most part by Dr Tuomo Karjalainen, European Commission,

Research Directorate-General, Directorate I (Environment), Unit Climate Change and Environmental Risks

(Head of Unit: Ms Elisabeth Lipiatou), with the skillful assistance of Ms Kerstin Johansson

Valuable contributions from the Directorate E (Biotechnologies, Agriculture, Food), Unit Food-Health-Wellbeing (Head of Unit: Antonio Di Giulio) are acknowledged, especially assistance from Drs Ana Nieto-Nuez and

Ebba Barany

Activities and contributions of former Scientific Officers in this field (including Mr Callum Searle, Dr Kirsi Haavisto,

Ms Minna Wilkki) should not be forgotten

The data in the project sheets was provided and validated for the most part by project coordinators and they bear responsibility for their scientific content and accuracy

Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers

to your questions about the European Union

Freephone number:

00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11

The views expressed here are those of the authors and may not in any circumstances be regarded

as stating an official position of the European Commission

Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication

Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2007

Foreword

It is pretty much accepted in our society that

environmental factors such as noise or air pollution

can have an adverse impact on human health and

well-being Opinion polls show that the majority

of the European public has increasing concerns

about the influence of these factors on their health

and their children’s health in particular The links

between environmental factors and disease trends

are now being discovered through numerous

scientific research projects Amongst the links now

highlighted are:

Cancer rates, including children’s cancer, are

increasing by around 1% a year This increase

is believed to be linked, at least partially, to a

number of environmental pollutants;

Fertility rates are declining at a worrying rate in

some EU countries, and environmental pollution

is also partly suspected;

Neurodevelopmental disorders are on the

increase in our children (including conditions

such as autism) and environmental exposures

could play a role here;

Allergies and asthma are increasing by 5% a year

across the continent, and air pollutants could be

partly to blame;

In addition, new and emerging technologies and

societal challenges, such as widespread use of mobile

phones and the consequences of climate change,

could bring new long-term health consequences

that must be risk assessed and managed

The European Union has been at the forefront of research on the environment and health for many years Through successive European Research Framework Programmes and national science programmes, we have greatly increased our understanding of the complex links between environmental risk factors and their effects on the health of citizens, various vulnerable sections of society and the population as a whole

This accumulated scientific knowledge has helped shape national and EU policy initiatives designed to protect our environment and promote human health throughout the continent A good example of this is the European Environment and Health Action Plan adopted in 2004

This publication brings together the final results of all European-funded research projects in the field of environment and health from the Fifth Framework Programme of Research (FP5) Sponsored by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research, the projects covered a multitude of issues in this complex area I sincerely hope this comprehensive overview will allow you to find some answers to the many questions raised by the general public, scientific community and policy-makers on the links between environment and human health

Janez Potocnik Commissioner for Science and Research

Table of contents

Air pollution-related health impacts 14

Chemicals and health impacts 20

Electromagnetic fields and health impacts .28

Noise-related health impacts .32

UV light and ionising radiation-related health impacts .34

Multiple stressors and factors and health impacts .36

Waterborne stressor-related health impacts 38

Climate change-related health impacts 40

Nanoparticle-related health impacts .42

The most common diseases and medical conditions

that affect European citizens today result from a

combination of risk factors, which are both genetic

and environmental Some of these risks are well

established, whilst others are emerging as a result

of societal change

How specific health and medical issues affect

individuals varies with time, geography, even the

weather An individual’s vulnerability is determined

by genetic factors, age, their diet and health status

Assessing and managing the various established

and emerging risks to human health, inherent

in a modern, constantly evolving society, is an

immensely complex task But it is a vital task that

can improve the quality of life of all citizens and

protect public health

The need for research

Over the past few decades the role of environmental

factors has been highlighted in the health debate,

for example the role of environmental tobacco

smoke on increased lung cancer in non-smokers

and the possible implication of some chemicals

in the observed rise in testicular cancer in some

European countries The focus was initially on workplace exposures, but as many of these industrial risks have been recognised, understood, and effectively regulated, the focus has shifted to more widespread risks In particular, most recently, the role of environmental factors in the health of the young, even pre-natal, child has become a growing concern

Environmental pollutants such as tobacco smoke, asbestos, pesticides, traffic fumes, and heavy metals have all been linked to diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease and abnormal pre- or post- natal development In addition, excessive exposure

to sunlight has been linked to cancer, while unhealthy nutrition can lead to heart disease Besides these effects, the noise of modern living can have serious health effects, including sleep disturbance and cardiovascular effects Allergies and asthma are

on the increase and the cost of their treatment is a significant strain on national medical budgets.New challenges are joining the old Climate change will effect our environment which in turn will present new health issues; new technologies such

as wireless communications and nanotechnology

could provide new potential for risk that must be assessed.The importance of environment-related disease and the need to reduce uncertainty regarding the health effects of environmental factors are clear The health and quality of life of European citizens would significantly benefit from reducing exposure

to key pollutants



have been implemented since 1984, but a specific

reference to concerns on the “personal environment”

first appeared in the third European Commission

Medical and Health Research Programme (MHR3) in

1982 to 1986 The subsequent MHR4 programme

(1987 – 1991) included “environment and

lifestyle-related health problems” in its priorities as well

as examining the effects of passive smoking and

exposure to industrial chemicals

The Biomedicine and Health Research programmes

BIOMED1 (1990 – 1994) and BIOMED2 (1994

– 1998) both covered environmental issues under

the theme “risk factors, especially in the context

of occupational medicine” and “diseases of major

socio-economic impact” In parallel, human health

issues were the subject of a number of projects

in the first and second “Specific Research and

Technological Development Programmes in the

field of Environment” ENV1 (1990 – 1994) and

ENV2 (1994 – 1998)

Environment and Health

issues in FP5

The Fifth European Community Research

Framework Programme (FP5) built on the results of

these previous initiatives through a number of more

integrated thematic programmes Environment and

health issues were mainly addressed within the

Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources

theme under Key Action 4 (KA4): Environment and

Health With a budget of €160 million over the

period 1998 – 2002, KA4 initiated more than 90

trans-national research projects the results from

which are presented together in this brochure for

the first time Projects were also funded by two

key actions within the Energy, Environment and

Sustainable Development programme

The general objective of environment and health

research in FP5 was to study the health effects of air

risks Special attention was paid to pollution in the workplace and to the effects on children and other vulnerable groups

The scientific and technological objectives were: Research into diseases and allergies related to, or influenced by, the environment, their prevention and their treatment;

The development of new methods of risk assessment, and of processes to reduce the causes and environmental factors which are harmful to health

Results of FP5 research - highlights

The research undertaken in FP5 consisted of nine priorities:

Air pollution-related health impacts Chemicals and health impacts Electromagnetic fields and health impacts Noise-related health impacts

UV light and ionising radiation-related health impacts

Multiple stressors and factors and their health impacts

Waterborne stressors and their health impacts Climate change-related health impacts Nanoparticles and health impactsThe first two priorities were the main focus of environment and health research for FP5, accounting for some 61 projects and 73% of the budget

Highlights of results for all priorities:

The adverse respiratory health effects of fine particles, nitrogen oxides and in particular smoking was repeatedly demonstrated The use of biomarkers to give early indication of either potential

to develop disease or evidence of exposure showed the utility of this emerging science for a variety of environmental stressors Effects were also observed

on other organs such as the cardiovascular system



These results have effectively fed into the EU policy

process on air pollution

Endocrine-related reproductive effects were

widely studied showing correlations between

exposure to a range of chemicals and adverse

effects in a variety of animal models ranging

from invertebrates to various mammals Human

studies showed, among others, that reproductive

health is deteriorating in several regions in Europe

as evidenced by declining sperm counts and

other parameters, but causes behind this change

remain unclear In addition, developmental and/or

neurobehavioural effects of some chemicals were

observed in animals as well as in exposed human

populations Studies on chemical pollution,

including how they are absorbed by the skin,

yielded new tools that will be of use in REACH

and workplace risk assessment

Fears about the adverse health effect of mobile

phone use and other electromagnetic sources were

not supported by research findings, although certain

genotoxic effects were seen in vitro, and the results

of some large-scale studies are still awaited

Clear evidence of links between transport noise,

classroom performance and health indicators

were made The additive effect of noise with

other environmental stressors was also clearly

demonstrated Noise can also have adverse

effects on the cardiovascular system

Genetic mechanisms for skin cancer development

were determined and biomarkers for early

diagnosis of UV damage identified

A major result of FP5 research was the development of

integrated environment and health risk assessment,

which was pioneered and shown to be effective

This approach paved the way for further more

extensive activity funded under the Sixth Framework

Programme of Research (FP6 – 2002-2006)

New technologies and methodologies were developed to help ensure the safety of bathing and drinking water across Europe

Initial work on the effects of global warming on diseases patterns and the potential effects of nanoparticles on human health was undertaken This work is continuing in FP6

In general, the knowledge gained from projects funded under FP5 helped to provide a scientific basis for assessing environmental risks, a main driver for developing knowledge-based policies

to protect public health

This research input is critical to good policy formulation across a wide range of areas including: The European Environment and Health Action Plan Sustainable Development Strategy

Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution Thematic Strategy on Urban Environment Community Strategy for Endocrine Disrupters GEOSS – Global Earth Observation System of Systems

REACH – Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals

Programme of Community Action in the Field of Public Health

EU Noise PolicyFull details of the research undertaken, its context, short project summaries and links to individual project sheets for all nine priorities can be found in individual chapters in this brochure

Continuing and future research

Following FP5, FP6 saw an increase in annual funding for Environment and Health projects from around €40 million a year to around €50 million for the period 2002 - 2006 The relevant funded projects were spread over four of the FP6 priorities: Food Quality and Safety1 (main area); Sustainable Development, Global Change and Ecosystems2;

10

1 http://cordis.europa.eu/food/home.html

2 http://cordis.europa.eu/sustdev/

The first priority had a specific

‘Environmental Health Risks’

area, from which small and

large-scale research projects

and networks have been funded

related to many environment and

health issues such as cancer or

allergies/asthma A large majority

of these projects are ongoing

The Sustainable Development,

Global Change and Ecosystems

priority devoted a large effort on

the improvement of integrated

environment and health risk

assessment as well health impact

assessment including valuation

and cost/ benefit analyses were

also funded in the Scientific

Support priority Genomics and

Biotechnology for Health sponsored epidemiological

and toxicological studies as well as projects related

to alternatives to animal testing Finally, the so-called

‘Priority 8’ (Scientific Support to Policy) has funded

a number of research projects with direct relevance

to policy making

One of the main drivers for research in FP6 was the

European Commission’s Environment and Health

Action Plan, adopted in 20045 The plan aims to

improve our understanding of the links between

environmental factors and health It was partially

inspired by a need to more fully engage policy

with new research results coming out of FP5 and

its precursors Implementation of the Action Plan’s

goals was started with FP6 via the funding of several

large projects referred to above

FP6 also saw the introduction of integrated

environment and health risk assessment

learnt in FP5 about the complexity and interaction between risks It also offers a better way to link environment and health data in a manner that supports policy-making This is also a systematic approach, incorporating the identification

of pollution sources, exposures (including the use of human biomonitoring pioneered

in FP5), making links with health effects, and economic valuation The development

of economic valuation models and tools for assessing the impact of policies is a vital link for effective regulation

Although funding for environment and health issues was higher in FP6, there were fewer projects, though this was compensated by their size In FP6,

an increased emphasis was put on integrated risk assessment, as described above, and multiple stressor effects Less funding was given to environmental stressors such as noise, air pollution and electromagnetic fields in FP6 as the results from ongoing projects in FP5 were awaited in order to direct further research In addition, projects covering risk/ benefit and cost/ benefit gained in importance

as did those relating to climate change – an area that had first been investigated during FP5

We are now entering FP7, which was launched at the beginning of 2007 This seven-year programme sees

a significant boost in overall funding and environment and health is identified as one of three activities under the theme “Environment (including Climate Change)”

of the Cooperation Programme6

Three priorities have been identified for environmental

and health activity:

Health effects of exposure to emerging

environmental stressors

Climate change and health

Novel approaches to environment and health risk

assessment

Other FP7 themes – in particular “Health” and

“Food, Agriculture, Fisheries and Biotechnology”

– will complement environment and health activities

and there may be opportunities for joint calls

FP5 was an important precursor in the field of

environment and health, delivering new knowledge,

pointing the way for further research and setting the

basis for policy-making However, a lot of information

on how environmental factors interact with human

health is still required In many ways the more

answers we find, the more questions we generate!

The integrated approach, focusing on multiple

stressors, pathways and effects, will be particularly

valuable in yielding definitive insights on the extent

to which environmental factors impact our health at

both the individual and societal levels

Environment and health

issues: joint effort at EU

and global levels

Reflecting the complexity

of issues involved, the

actors involved at the

Community and global level

are numerous As regards

FP5 and FP6, within the

Research

Directorate-General, two directorates

were chiefly involved with

sponsoring environment and health-related

research activities: Directorate E (Biotechnologies,

Agriculture, Food) and Directorate I (Environment)

In FP7 Directorate I is taking the lead, with the Health and Food Directorates playing a lesser role DG Information Society and Media will also fund research in this area, for example concerning personal exposure monitoring

Other European actors that play significant roles

in environment and health issues are DG Joint Research Centre7, the European Environmental Agency (EEA)8 and the European Food Standards Agency (EFSA)9 EEA and EFSA have been important end-users of research funded by the Framework Programmes

The main policy-making Directorate-Generals that benefit from the research input are Environment10, Health and Consumer Protection11 and Enterprise12.European research also interacts with other national and international endeavours In particular, the European Commission works actively with bodies such

as the World Health Organisation (WHO) on initiatives like the Children’s Health and Environment Action Plan for Europe (CEHAPE)13 and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Task Force on Endocrine Disrupters

Air pollution-related

health impacts

European context

Although for most parts of Europe dense industrial

“smog” is no longer a common feature of our

larger cities due to various clean air regulations, air

pollution, though less visible, is still a major health

hazard In particular the significant recent increases

in traffic volumes has brought with it new risks

Air pollution includes dust, smoke and gases

in the air that we breathe Such pollution can

have natural sources like volcanic eruptions or

traditional agricultural practices, but the main

day-to-day contributors are from traffic and

industry In addition to outdoor pollution, there is

also indoor pollution, with a long list of potential

contributors These include: ambient air pollution,

dust, inefficient combustion of fuel for cooking and

heating, household chemical products, fabrics and

coverings, and, in particular, tobacco smoke

Air pollution can be harmful to all the vital organs

of the human body It can penetrate the lungs and

transfer into the blood system moving around the

body through the blood vessels to the heart and into

the immune system This means that air pollution

does not only aggravate respiratory problems and can

cause asthma and other allergic responses, but can

also be involved in cardiovascular health problems

The net result is that in cities across Europe, air pollution may be causing tens of thousands of premature deaths from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases annually Indoor and outdoor air pollution are the environmental factors with the greatest impact

on general health in Europe and are responsible for the largest burden of environment-related disease.Recent estimates indicate that 20 million Europeans suffer from respiratory problems every day14 Particulate matter and especially small particles with diameter less than 2.5 micrometres (μm) – also known as PM2.5 – are associated with increased mortality, especially from cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary diseases

Asthma is increasing all over Europe, although the rate of increase has considerable variation across the continent The cost to European society of asthma is estimated at €3 billion per year15 The annual increase of childhood asthma/allergy cases in Europe is estimated

at 5%; thus by 2050 one out of two European children will be likely to suffer from allergic disease

FP5 projects – Revealing the link between air pollution and health

Among the environment and health projects funded

by FP5, the 20 projects listed here are related directly

Air Pollution-Related Environmental Stressors

Common outdoor and indoor pollutants include:

Gases such as ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide;

Particulate matter, mineral ash, smoke, and engine exhaust fumes; and

Tobacco smoke, dust containing various allergens, substances emanating from building materials

and consumer products

14

14 “Environment and Health”, EEA Report No 10/2005 http://reports.eea.europa.eu/eea_report_2005_10/en/EEA_report_10_2005.pdf

15 “Environment and Health”, EEA Report No 10/2005 http://reports.eea.europa.eu/eea_report_2005_10/en/EEA_report_10_2005.pdf

health effects and provide tools

for measuring real life exposures

and effects The projects

favoured the development

of protective measures and

have fed into the process of

regulating pollutant emissions

European Commission funding

for these projects represented

around 17% of the total budget

allocated to environment and

health in FP5

Research results

The FP5 projects undertaken in this area can be

classified into four groups:

Air pollution and respiratory health – 11 projects

Air pollution and carcinogenic or genotoxic

The findings of research on respiratory health

highlighted correlations between asthma and

allergies and cooking with gas, smoking and some

domestic cleaning sprays In particular ensuring

adequate ventilation for domestic gas cookers

to reduce ambient nitrogen oxides could have a

significant impact on indoor air quality

The invasive nature and damage caused by small

particles (PM10, PM2.5 etc.) in the lungs and other

areas of the body were extensively investigated

Although particle samples vary widely across

Europe, correlations between inflammatory lung

responses and particle pollution were observed and

also related to genotoxicity Some particles were

found to have high poly aromatic hydrocarbon and/

or arsenic content

All the projects accumulated further evidence that reinforces the need to regulate to reduce the concentration of these particles being produced by human activities – in particular those emanating from diesel transport Smoking and the use of solid fuel for residential heating were also significant sources.The emerging science of biomarkers was shown

to be very useful as a method for the early diagnosis and assessment of respiratory disease New methods were developed to rapidly identify potential exposure to occupational allergens New accurate calibration methods for lung diagnostic equipment will also help medical intervention and clinical support in this area

The potential for carcinogenic activity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was demonstrated including DNA damage and inhibition of repair processes; similar DNA damage was also observed for smokers Detrimental genotoxic effects of environmental pollution were also shown in children with chromosomal aberrations most affected by chemical pollution whilst other genetic effects were influenced

by environmental tobacco smoke and smoking during pregnancy Adverse genetic and carcinogenic effects of traffic pollution were found, in particular for ex-smokers (up to 10 years after quitting the habit), and further evidence for the undesirable health effects of environmental tobacco smoke

1

Further evidence to assist regulation of vehicle fuel

was found when investigating cardiovascular effects

There was some contradictory evidence on the

effects of particles effects, however high sulphur fuels

– now effectively regulated out of the transport market

– were shown as a primary trigger for DNA damage

The significant impact of fine airborne particles and

ozone leading to increasing premature death gave

further evidence for regulation and preventative

measures, while new markers for and understanding

of mercury exposure will help public protection

Further work

Health-related air pollution research in FP6 is focused

in three ongoing projects ENVIE16 (a coordination

action on indoor air quality and health effects),

PRONET17 (Policy reductions option network that

will exchange useful practices at a regional level

on indoor air quality and road traffic hazards), and

CAIR4HEALTH support action (Clean Air for Health

– research needs for sustainable development

policies)

Air pollution also features as an aspect of the large

integrated risk assessment project INTARESE18

(integrated assessment of health risks of

environmental stressors in Europe) and a variety of

other such projects

For FP7, research on air pollution-related activities

may be funded under the Health (cohort studies),

Information and Communication Technologies

(personalised exposure measurement devices) and

Energy and Transport themes However, the main

focus of activity concerning health impacts of air

pollution will be the Environment (including climate

change) theme19

FP5 projects list

Brief details of each project in this area are given

below For more details please see the individual

project summary sheets

Air Pollution and Respiratory Health

AIRALLERG – Effects of Outdoor and Indoor Air Pollution on the Development of Allergic Disease in Children

Variations in levels of indoor nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrous acid (HONO) were correlated with use

of gas for cooking and smoking; other correlations included floor type with levels of floor dust amounts

BIOAIR – Longitudinal Assessment of Clinical Course and Biomarkers in Severe Chronic Airway Disease

This in-depth study has provided new insights on the mechanisms involved and interventions possible for patients suffering these widespread debilitating

HELIOS – Biomarkers for the Non-invasive Assessment of Acute and Chronic Effects of Air Pollutants on the Respiratory Epithelium

No evidence of chronic toxic effects on lung function that correlated with differences in air quality across Europe was found In particular no effect due to ozone However, trichloramine above a certain threshold has major effect on children’s lungs

[Page 50]

HEPMEAP – Health Effects of Particles from Motor Engine Exhaust and Ambient Air Pollution

Particulate matter collected in this project varied widely across Europe but coarse and fine particles appear to have similar toxic effects when compared

variety of allergens: nasal sampling of employees

was shown as a feasible approach for short-term

measurements and a lateral flow immunoassay was

developed as a rapid test method for occupational

PAMCHAR – Chemical and Biological

Characterisation of Ambient Air Coarse, Fine

and Ultrafine Particles for Human Health Risk

Assessment in Europe

High PM10-2.5 concentration in samples correlated

with strong inflammatory lung responses; increased

health risks were suggested in communities with

heavy use of solid fuel for residential heating

[Page 56]

PATY – Pollution and the Young: Combined

Analyses of Cross-sectional Studies of

Respiratory Health of Children and Air Pollution

Uncertainties remain about the impacts of air

pollution on the young By bringing together a large

number of comparable data, which have already

been collected, this study offers a cost-effective

route to improved assessments of the effects of the

long term impacts of air pollution using data from

12 countries and a combined study size of over

PAWG –Programmable Air Wave Generator with

Controlled Temperature, Pressure, Humidity and

Air Wave Frequencies for Calibration

This project has developed new methods and tools

for accurate calibration of lung diagnostic and other

medical equipment This is important for efficient

and effective diagnosis and treatment [Page 60]

RAIAP – Respiratory Allergy and Inflammation

due to Ambient Particles – A Europe-wide

Assessment

Chemical characterisation of fine and coarse

samples showed distinct differences across

Europe and allergy and inflammation responses were measured – the inflammation response was greatest for coarse samples [Page 62]

RUPIOH –Relationship between Ultrafine and Fine Particulate Matter in Indoor and Outdoor Air and Respiratory Health

It was found that using a central urban sampling point allowed a good estimate for temporal distribution across a metropolitan area; little difference in particle concentration between central and suburban outdoor sites was found, but there was little correlation between outdoor and indoor air concentrations

[Page 64]

1

Air Pollution and Genotoxic or

Carcinogenic Effects

AMBIPATH – Mechanism-based Approaches to

Improved Cancer Risk Assessment of Ambient

Air Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

The mutagenic potency of PAHs was found to parallel

their carcinogenic potency and mixture studies show

evidence of additive effects - in some cases at doses

close to those of environmental relevance [Page 66]

CHILDRENGENONETWORK – European

Network on Children’s Susceptibility and

Exposure to Environmental Genotoxicants

Age and exposure-related increases in a number of

cytogenetic endpoints in children with increase in

environmental pollutants (chemicals and tobacco

EXPAH –Effects of PAHs in Environmental Pollution

on Exogenous and Endogenous DNA Damage

DNA adducts were found to be more abundant in

exposed population (compared to control group)

and exposure to PAHs significantly influenced the

DNA repair process in the subjects’ lymphocytes

[Page 70]

GEN-AIR – Molecular Changes and Genetic Susceptibility in Relation to Air Pollution and Environmental Tobacco Smoke: a Case-Control Study in Non-smokers Nested in the Epic Investigation

High exposure to traffic pollution increased potential for lung cancer in ex-smokers with no observable effect on people who had never smoked; in addition, DNA adducts seem to be associated with subsequent risk of lung cancer [Page 72]

Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Effects

AIRGENE – Air Pollution and Inflammatory Response in Myocardial Infraction Survivors: Gene-environment-interactions in High-risk Group

No association was found between ambient air pollution and risk indicators for heart attack, suggesting that medication, such as statins, may

be acting protectively and susceptibility was heavily related to personal characteristics [Page 74]

HEAPSS – Health Effects of Air Pollution on Susceptible Subpopulations: Ultrafine Particles and Myocardial Infarction

This study did see a relation between air pollution and heart attacks although results with mortality were less consistent: total particle number and carbon monoxide concentration were the most strongly related with the health effects studied [Page 76]

MAAPHRI – Multidisciplinary Approaches to Airborne Pollutants Health-Related Issues

High sulphur fuels were shown to

be the main toxic component to trigger DNA damage and systemic inflammation A new danger with increased NO2 emissions was identified that can trigger acute cardiorespiratory impacts [Page 78]

1

and Health

Impact assessment revealed that ozone and fine

air particle pollution could result in several tens to

hundreds of thousands of premature deaths each

EMECAP – European Mercury Emission from

Chlor-alkali Plants

This study has increased our knowledge of

environmental exposure to mercury, identified markers

for early biological effects and developed innovative

analytical devices for large area monitoring

[Page 82]

1

Chemicals

and health impacts

Friends or foe?

HPC - Halogenated Phenolic Compound

PAH - Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon

PCB - Polychlorinated Biphenyl

POP - Persistent Organic Pollutant

NO2 - Nitrogen dioxide

European context

Chemicals are ubiquitous Everything in our

world is made of chemicals including all living

organisms, our food and the air we breathe

Our environment and ourselves are essentially

a complex, interacting mixture of chemical

molecules In addition to natural environmental

chemicals, human activity and ingenuity has

added new synthetic molecules

This technological advance has done much to

enhance European quality of life over the last

century, but has resulted in the release of many

potentially toxic substances into the environment,

some of which contaminate the air and soil, and

find their way into ground and coastal waters

Chemicals enter our environment through many human activities Mining sites can release heavy metals, acids and organic compounds Combustion plants, waste incinerators, heating systems and the internal combustion engine emit acid gases, ozone precursors and persistent organic pollutants such

as dioxins and furans Mercury and volatile organic compounds can evaporate from old industrial sites Industries and households discharge chemicals – including synthetic hormones derived from the wide-scale use of the birth control pill – into sewers and thus into rivers Farmers use synthetic fertilisers and pesticides over large areas In and outside our buildings, at home, work or play, our materials, furnishings and fibres are all coated with paint, flame retardants and fungicides

Once chemicals are in the environment they can move around by a variety of mechanisms Some react with light or other chemicals, some are degraded, but others persist for many years Following ingestion by living organisms some chemicals can become

‘bio-accumulated’ and become more concentrated as they move

up the food chain Unexpectedly high (and toxic) concentrations

20

as the Arctic and Antarctic.

More than 10 million individual chemicals have been

identified, of which some 100 000 are registered in

the European Union and about 30 000 of these are

used regularly in industrial processes Some are

known to be harmful to humans, wildlife and/ or the

environment, but for others toxicity and ecotoxicity

data are not readily available

FP5 projects –

Towards a better understanding

Understanding the effects of chemical contaminants

on human health was a major priority for FP5 and a

significant minority of all projects in the Environment

and Health area were tasked to investigate this area

Some focused explicitly on the chemicals and many

more examined their effects and interactions

The projects focused on a number of issues:

Hazard and risk characterisation of various

groups of chemicals including heavy metals,

endocrine disrupters (please see box on

Endocrine Disrupters), dioxins, PCBs, styrene,

and asbestos;

Epidemiological approaches to exposure

assessment including the use of biomarkers,

birth cohorts etc.;

Development of new methods and tests for

analysis of toxicity;

Exploring the role of genetic susceptibility in

disease development;

Investigation of mechanisms of disease development

in various organs in ‘real life’ exposure situations,

i.e., low doses and multiple exposures

European Commission funding for these projects

represented over 50% of the total budget

allocated to environment and health in FP5 In

fact, around 20% of the budget was allocated

to investigation of projects focused on endocrine

Endocrine-related reproductive effects were widely studied showing correlations especially between exposure to a variety of chemicals and reproductive parameters in a variety of animal models and also

in human studies In particular, a significant new hypothesis called testicular dysgenesis syndrome was developed that provides an explanation for

a plausible link between environmental factors including endocrine disrupting chemicals and the

21

with the functions of the endocrine (or nal) system of organisms Chemicals that exhibit endocrine disrupting activity can be natural or synthetic hormones or other natural or synthetic chemical compounds Potential endocrine dis-rupters include the synthetic chemicals: polychlo-robiphenyls, dioxins, persistent pesticides and some chemicals used in the plastics and deter-gents industry

hormo-Potential health effects of endocrine disrupters include breast, prostate and testicular cancer, urogentital malformations and reduced male fer-tility Exposure in children may affect thyroid and immune systems and alter physical and mental development Endocrine disrupters can have a significant effect on the health of humans and other organisms, so represent a major, medical, environmental and social concern

observed medical outcomes such as reduced

semen quality or testicular cancer

Neurobehavioural effects of some chemicals were

observed In particular, elevated polychlorinated

biphenyl (PCB) serum concentration was correlated

with poor sensomotor function in children In

contrast other studies, found no ill effects and/

or unacceptable exposures for brominated

halogenated phenolic compounds and pesticides

Some potential androgenic/ anti- androgenic

chemicals were shown to have clear effects in animal

models including invertebrates but acceptable daily

dietary intake levels for humans were not found to

be exceeded in Europe

The carcinogenic risk of arsenic was investigated,

mechanisms for its effect on DNA proposed and a

lower limit for impact due to oral exposure determined

New biomarkers for cancer were established

including early identification of high risk individuals

Potential health risks from wood dust were assessed

and molecular mechanisms proposed

Asbestos-substitute materials were evaluated and while all

samples could induce markers for lung inflammation

two showed potential genotoxic effects

Chemicals that interfere with cell division were

studied and a battery of new tests to determine the

biological and health significance of such chemicals

developed – the same study found that current

levels of exposure to bisphenol A in Europe did not

represent a significant health threat Encouraging

data showing reduced workplace exposure to

process dust in the rubber industry was also found

Work on multiple effects of chemicals focused, among

others, on dioxin which highlighted developmental

effects (such as tooth development) as highly

sensitive while cancer effects were less sensitive

than previously believed Work on multiple effects of

endocrine disrupters gave contradictory results with

some research demonstrating no morphological

effects, while others found effects, elaborated

mechanisms and proposed risk assessments for non-reproductive organs in humans

New methods such as bioassays and models such as transgenic animals for risk assessment provide valuable tools and can give new insights on mechanistic effects New methods for estimating the effects of endocrine disrupting mixtures, biomarkers and other methods for endocrine detection and characterisation, and effects of endocrine active substances on bone development were developed Better prediction of pesticide concentrations

in the environment and their detection with biosensors was demonstrated Studies of how chemicals are absorbed by the skin also yielded new tools that will be

of use in REACH and workplace risk assessment.Other new predictive method development included new “DNA chip” technology for immunotoxicity testing, fragrance allergy testing that reduced animal use and provided more information on sensitisers, neurotoxic effects of volatile chemicals and biomonitoring for occupational exposure to styrene The effect of toxic metals and insecticides

on the immune function, pregnancy and foetal development was also studied

Further work

Considerable resources continued to be invested in research on chemicals and health during FP6 and will continue during FP7 Focus is shifting in particular on early exposures to multiple chemicals and their long-term health impacts in vulnerable populations such as children New efficient methods for genotoxic analysis and methods for risk assessment of chemicals – in

particular computational or in vitro methods – that

reduce, refine or replace the use of animal testing are

of particular interest both to gain new knowledge and

as supports to significant new chemicals regulation (REACH) aimed at increasing public safety

FP5 projects list

Brief details of each project in this area are given

on the next page For more details please see the individual project summary sheets

22

Chemicals with Reproductive and

Developmental Effects

ANEMONE –Assessment of Neurobehavioural

Endpoints and Markers of Neurotoxicant

Exposures

PCB concentration in children from the Faeroe islands

were on average 60% those of their mothers but

this increased with duration of breastfeeding Their

performance in neurobehavioural tests decreased with

the extent of exposure to prenatal methyl mercury

[Page 84]

BEEP – Biological Effects of Environmental

Pollution in Marine Coastal Ecosystems

A range of biomarkers were developed to evaluate

pollutant effects on the reproductive health of mussels

and fish to give a standardised array of biomarkers

for use in international monitoring programmes

[Page 86]

BIOCET – Bioaccumulation of Persistent

Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Small Cetaceans

in European Waters: Transport Pathways and

Impact on Reproduction

POP levels in female common dolphins were linked to

diet, area and reproductive status; POP concentrations

were commonly recorded above levels where effects

on reproduction would be expected [Page 88]

Mixtures of Organohalogens

The study concluded that there is a sufficient margin of safety for brominated HPCs (halogenated phenolic compounds) and current exposure of humans to such HPCs does not pose any risk for

COMPRENDO – Comparative Research on Endocrine Disrupters: Phylogenic Approach and Common Principles focusing on Androgenic/ Anti-androgenic Compounds

The level of contamination of food by pesticides, organochlorine and organotin compounds was found not to exceed Acceptable Daily Intake levels; however, observations of the effects of these chemicals on a variety of animal models has resulted in some new Predicted No Effect Concentrations for risk assessment [Page 92]

ENDISRUPT – Identification of Critical Rat Testicular Genes altered after Fetal Androgenic Disruption by Flutamide: Use of DNA Microarray

This project showed that in utero exposure to anti-androgenic chemicals induced long-term programmed cell death in testicular germ cells A health risk associated with foetal exposure to such endocrine disrupters was suggested [Page 94]

ENDOMET – Dysregulation of Endogenous

Steroid Metabolism Potentially alters Neuronal and Reproductive System Development: Effects

of Environmental Plasticisers

A number of plasticisers were demonstrated to have

a variety of effects on gene regulation, cell signalling

and reproduction The project provided new in vitro test protocols that can identify the endocrine

disrupting potential of chemicals [Page 96]

ENV REPROD HEALTH – Increasing Incidence

of Human Male Reproductive Health Disorders

in Relation to Environmental Effects on

23

Growth- and Sex Steroid Induced Alterations in

Programmed Development

The project showed significant differences in

sperm quality between countries (Denmark and

Finland) with differences reflecting incidence of

testicular cancer and other genital malformations A

significant new hypothesis was proposed: testicular

EUROPIT – Toxicological Evaluation of the

Immune Function of Pesticide Workers, a

Europe-wide Assessment

No clinical effects of exposure to pesticides were

observed although some subtle immune alterations

EXPORED –Multi-organic Risk Assessment of

Selected Endocrine Disrupters

Analysis showed that exposure to PBDE

(polybrominated diphenyl ethers) was associated

with increased risk of the male genital malformation

cryptorchidism Associations with other individual

chemicals were not clear but a combined statistical

analysis of the eight most abundant persistent

pesticides showed levels in breast milk were

significantly higher for boys with cryptorchidism

[Page 102]

FIRE –Risk Assessment of Brominated Flame

Retardants as Suspected Endocrine-Disrupters

for Human and Wildlife Health

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is known to act on

the thyroid gland accompanied by neurobehavioural changes, this project demonstrated endocrine disrupting activity in both human and fish subjects

[Page 104]

GENDISRUPT – Genetic Markers and Susceptibility to the Effects of Endocrine Disruptors during Mammalian Testis Development

Extensive microarray analysis of the genetic effect

of selected endocrine disrupters on testicular cells showed that mono ester phthalate (MEHP) produced the highest deregulation The findings support a genetic basis for human male infertility and the

project developed an in vitro assay to identify and

quantify estrogenic activity of endocrine disrupters

[Page 106]

INUENDO – Biopersistent organochlorines

in Diet and Human Fertility Epidemiological Studies of time in Pregnancy and Semen Quality

in Inuit and European Populations

Concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

in serum related to reduced fertility in Greenland but not in Caucasian couples High PCB exposure associated with 50% increase in sperm with damaged DNA in Caucasian males; however, no correlations were seen between fertility and other chemicals including POP markers [Page 108]

PBDE-NTOX – Developmental Neurotoxicity

of Polybrominated Diphenyl-ethers (PBDE): Mechanisms and Effects

The project demonstrated a link between gestational or early postnatal exposure to PBDE and interference with a number of neurobehavioural

PCBRISK – Evaluating Human Health Risk from Low-dose and Long-term PCB Exposure

A Slovakian child cohort showed significant associations between PCB serum concentrations and performance in sensomotor tests Significant effects also demonstrated on thyroid activity, tooth

24

Molecular Epidemiology

Positive association was found between exposure

to arsenic and three types of cancer: basal cell

carcinoma of the skin is associated with lifetime

average arsenic concentration, bladder cancer with

cumulative arsenic dose, and kidney cancer with

ASRISK –The Mechanistic Basis for providing a

Realistic Cancer Risk Assessment for Exposure

to Inorganic Arsenic within the European

Community

Human studies showed that induction of micronuclei

in human white blood cells was the most sensitive

biological indicator for oral exposure to arsenic The

project also shed light on the mechanism by which

arsenic disrupted DNA repair and other processes

CANCERRISKBIOMARKERS – Cytogenetic

Biomarkers and Human Cancer Risk

The frequency of chromosomal aberrations was

shown to be a potential biomarker for cancer, in

particular for stomach and colorectal cancers The

project also suggested that frequency of micronuclei

may have value as a predictor [Page 118]

EXASRUB – Improved Exposure Assessment

for Prospective Cohort Studies and Exposure

Control in the Rubber Manufacturing Industry

This comprehensive database shows a clear

downward time trend for inhalable and respirable

rubber process dust with average occupational

exposure in most European countries now below

FIBRETOX –Mechanisms of Toxicity of

Asbestos-Substitute Mineral Fibres: New Approaches to

Hazard and Risk Assessment

All four fibres tested could induce changes in

early biomarkers for lung inflammation, but only

two (amosite, RW1) induced potential persistent

OXEXRISK – Oxidative Stress and Chronic Diseases: Exocyclic DNA Adducts as Markers for Disrupted Genomic Integrity and Risk

The project provided further validation for the use

of etheno-adducts as promising biomarkers in aetiology and cancer prevention research including early identification of risk groups or individuals

WOODRISK –Risk Assessment of Wood Dust: Assessment of Exposure, Health Effects and Biological Mechanisms

Wood dust appears to induce pulmonary inflammation processes, generate reactive oxygen species and genotoxic effects The project also gave estimates of current workplace

Chemicals with Multiple Effects ESTROGENS & DISEASE – The Impact

of Developmental Exposure to Weak (Environmental) Estrogens on the Incidence of Diseases in Target Organs later in Life

Although no significant morphological effects of oestrogen exposure in testis, ovary, prostate, brain or mammary glands was found, the general conclusion was that exposure to low dose oestrogen before birth can cause subtle, long-term changes in the expression of specific genes and proteins

[Page 130]

2

EURISKED –Multi-organic Risk Assessment of

Selected Endocrine Disrupters

The effects of endocrine disrupters including

UV-sunscreen formulations were studied in a number

of organs including the thyroid, liver and the brain

[Page 132]

Chemicals: Risk Assessment,

Testing and Models

ACE – Analysing Combination Effects of

Mixtures of Estrogenic Chemicals in Marine and

Freshwater Organisms

Validated prediction concepts have used

concentration addition to accurately predict the

effect of mixtures of environmental oestrogens

This has implications for current risk assessment

which should be revised to increase protection of

APECOP – Effective Approaches for Assessing

the Predicted Environmental Concentrations

(PEC) of Pesticides: a Proposal supporting the

Harmonised Registration of Pesticides in Europe

A spatially distributed modelling approach allowed

introduction of a more detailed description of

variability in soil, crop and climate in ground-water

exposure in PEC assessment [Page 136]

BONETOX – Bone Development and

Homeostasis: Critical Targets in Toxicology

Research to Support Test-method Development

and Human-health Risk Assessment for Dioxins

and other Endocrine-disrupting Compounds in

the Food Chain

This project is investigating the mechanisms of

chemically-induced bone and embryo toxicity The

contribution of endocrine disrupting chemicals to

increasing levels of osteoporosis and other bone

disorders will be estimated [Page 138]

DIOXIN RISK ASSESSMENT –Comprehensive

Risk Analysis of Dioxins: Development of

Methodology to Assess Genetic Susceptibility

to Developmental Disturbances and Cancer

Dioxin effects can be divided into two types with

important implications for risk assessment: Dioxin type I are low dose effects that follow reasonably predictable dose ranges with biochemical effects, including teeth defects, whilst Type II effects are variable inter-species due to high dose and include wasting syndrome, liver damage and (probably) cancer Risk assessment should be based on developmental (type I) effects rather than cancer

[Page 140]

EASYRING –Environmental-agent Susceptibility Assessment Utilising Existing and Novel Biomarkers as Rapid Non-invasive Testing Methods

Fish from polluted river water were found to tend towards increasing levels of vitellogenin (VTG), a biomarker for oestrogenicity, and liver and gonad morphological effects New non-invasive tests for VTG and computational (QSAR) models to predict the endocrine disruptive potential of chemicals

EDEN –Endocrine Disrupters: Exploring novel Endpoints, Exposure, Low-dose and Mixture Effects in Humans, Aquatic Wildlife and Laboratory Animals

This wide-ranging project is trying to determine

if current hazard and risk assessment strategies

to deal with endocrine disrupters in Europe are sufficient to protect both humans and wildlife – results on mixtures already indicate an area for potential revised regulation [Page 144]

EDERA – Development and Implementation

of New in vivo and in vitro Systems for the

Characterisation of Endocrine Disrupters

By developing ‘reporter mouse’ imaging technology this project provided a more refined method for studying effects of endocrine disruption whilst reducing the number of animals required for testing and eliminating the need for experimental animals to

EDETOX – Evaluations and Predictions of Dermal Absorption of Toxic Chemicals

26

dermal penetration of a chemical based on its

physicochemical properties [Page 148]

FRAGRANCE ALLERGY –Fragrance Chemical

Allergy: a Major Environmental and Consumer

Health Problem in Europe

A number of new fragrance allergens were identified

and new tools to identify fragrance sensitisers

and fragrance sensitive persons were developed

together with suggestions for safer substitute

IMMUNOTOX CELL CHIP –A new Technology for

Fluorescent ‘Cell Chip’ Immunotoxicity Testing

A high throughput screening test based on a

fluorescent cell chip technology using changes in

cytokine expression in an in vitro test to determine

in vivo perturbation potential in the immune system

MENDOS – Biomimetic Optical Sensors for

Environmental Endocrine Disruptor Screening

The basis for producing high throughput

biomimetic and biological sensors for endocrine

disruptor activity was established for fully functional

molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) technology

[Page 154]

Amongst other finding the project showed that in utero environmental exposure to toxic metals and organochlorine insecticides influenced immune function in placental tissue, maternal and cord blood and such compounds can cross the placenta

in vivo and accumulate in foetal organs.[Page 156]

RANTIV – Development of Methods for Predictive Toxicity Testing with Reference to Neurotoxic Volatile Chemicals

New in vitro tests were developed that can predict

neurotoxic effects and are especially good for

understanding mechanism of action However, in vivo

exposures followed by behavioural analysis are still required to detect subtle toxic effects [Page 158]

RISKOFDERM – Risk Assessment for Occupational Dermal Exposure to Chemicals This project delivered two major outputs: a predictive dermal exposure model that will be of use in implementation of REACH and a tool kit for risk assessment and risk management of dermal

[Page 164]

2

Electromagnetic fields

and health impacts

What are electromagnetic fields?

Electric fields are measured in volts per metre and are generated by any electric charge The strength of an electric field decreases with distance from its source and can be blocked by walls and other intervening materials Magnetic fields are measured in Tesla (T) and generated by any magnetic object or a moving electric current They also decrease with distance from the source but are less shielded by intervening objects

Electric and magnetic fields are linked as whenever an electric current moves in an electric field then a magnetic field in generated, similarly if a magnet moves in a magnetic field it can induce an electric field This electromagnetic phenom-enon has brought many benefits to society in terms of electrical appliances and other specific use of electromagnetic fields for medical and other applications

Electromagnetic fields (EMF) can be described as a wave that oscillates at a particular frequency Frequency is ured in hertz (Hz or oscillations per second)

meas-European context

Electric and magnetic fields are all around us in

modern society, but are also a feature of nature

Lightening is the result of the build-up of an electric

field resulting in a discharge of current – the

lightening bolt The Earth itself has a well known

magnetic field that humans (and other animals) have

found so useful to help navigation over the years

Human-produced sources of EMF are now

everywhere in our homes, schools and workplaces

An EMF is generated whenever an electric current flows, so every time you operate an electrical appliance you also produce an EMF Using the hairdryer, the vacuum cleaner, the microwave and the TV remote all generate EMF

In the street radio-frequency antennae, cabling for power supply and other uses ensures the presence

of EMF, while at the office the computers and their screens, electric motors and security devices keep

us bathed in an unseen, but weak, EMF

The number and variety of EMF frequencies experienced in society is increasing all the time with new technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth producing new wide-spread sources.Mobile phones are a particular source of EMF that has grown rapidly and brought benefits

to our lives It also brings two potential sources of EMF: the

2

body, in particular the head, during use.

When an EMF interacts with living cells and tissues

this can cause heating, alter chemical reactions, or

induce electrical charges and currents All of these

interactions could potentially produce adverse

health effects There have been suggestions

of links between EMF and cancer or diseases

such as Alzheimer’s However, there is little or no

conclusive evidence that the level of EMF currently

experienced by the general population does cause

ill health, but on the basis of current scientific

knowledge the question of whether the use of

mobile phones poses an increased risk of cancer

is still an open question

Novel electrical and electronic technologies,

new communication devices, magnetic imaging

technologies for medical use and other applications

bring new EMF challenges that must be assessed

for risk

organisms in FP5 Legislators need validated scientific evidence to establish the safety standards and exposure limits, while manufacturers need

to have guidelines for safe product design The environment and health projects funded in FP5 have contributed to this vital research effortProjects in this area represent around 9% of the total budget for environment and health in FP5

Terahertz Radiation and Health – 2 projectsThe majority of the projects looked at radiofrequency fields and health due to the increased concern from the widespread use of

2

The electromagnetic spectrum includes X-rays, sunlight, visible light, infrared, microwaves, radio waves and at low

frequency radiation from power lines and other electric fields The energy of electromagnetic radiation is proportional

to frequency, so X-rays with high frequency are very energetic and are known as ionising radiation as they can break

chemical bonds and produce charged atoms called ions

Lower energy, or lower frequency, electromagnetic radiation – to the left of the visible region - is non-ionising as it

cannot break chemical bonds, but it can interact with matter in other ways This is the source of potential risk from EMF

that is of interest to researchers in this context

GSM/mobile phones in society Although final

reports are still due for some projects, there

is a reasonable consensus that no significant

observable adverse effects have been discovered

relating to GSM use, although further work will be

required to investigate detailed responses

However, some adverse genotoxic interactions

of EMF of the type generated by 50 Hz mains

electricity were observed in a particularly sensitive

set of tests

Terahertz radiation is used in medical applications

and is often found at exits to shops, for example,

to detect and deter shoplifting The results from the

FP5 research projects showed that such devices

induce no adverse effects under the experimental

conditions employed A number of recommendations

for improvements to the exposure guidelines for

terahertz security devices were made

Further work

Within FP6 the work on EMF was specifically

continued in the coordination action EMF-NET20

(Effects of the exposure to Electromagnetic fields:

From science to public health and safer workplaces),

which is working to bring together research results

on biological effects of EMF including occupational

exposure A COST21 action was also funded, focused

on health risks related to emerging technologies

The Environment and Health activity within the

Environment (including Climate Change) theme

of the Cooperation Programme in FP722 includes

specific reference to health effects of EMF and

other funding may be possible under calls from the

Information and Communication Technologies and

Health themes

FP5 projects list

Brief details of each project in this area are given

below For more details please see the individual

project summary sheets

Radiofrequency Fields and Health

CEMFEC –Combined effects if Electromagnetic Fields with Environmental Carcinogens

At the levels of exposure chosen no carcinogenic effects due to radiofrequency exposure were found

GUARD – Potential Adverse Effects of GSM Cellular Phones on Hearing

No effects due to GSM phones on the main measures of auditory status in animals or humans could be found, but study of potential effects in the auditory efferent system were recommended

[Page 168]

INTERPHONE –International Case Control Studies

of Cancer in Relation to Mobile Phone Use This project is aiming to give a definitive answer to the question: “do mobile phones increase cancer risk” through a wide-ranging, multi-country study

on the occurrence of tumours in cells in close proximity to phones during use such as the brain, acoustic nerve and parotid gland The final report is

RAMP 2001 – Risk Assessment for Exposure

of Nervous System Cells to Mobile Telephone

EMF: from In Vitro to In Vivo Studies

No specific effects were found in this in vivo and in vitro study of the possible effects of electromagnetic

fields on the brain and nervous system [Page 172]

PERFORM-A – In vivo Research on Possible Health Effects related to Mobile Telephones and Base Stations (Carcinogenicity Studies in Rodents)

Six animal models are being used to determine

if radiofrequency exposure induces or promotes cancer in mice and rats The final report is due

Environmental Hazards from Low-energy

Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Exposure using

Sensitive in vitro Methods

Intermittent exposure to 50 Hz low-frequency

electromagnetic fields, such as that generated by

mains electrical installations in Europe, was shown

to have genotoxic effects on human fibroblasts,

melanocytes and some animal cells [Page 176]

Terahertz Radiation and Health

ADVICE PULSED FIELDS – Health Impact

from the Use of Security and Similar

Devices Employing Pulsed and Continuous

Electromagnetic Fields

Security devices, such as those often found at the

exit of stores, use EMF and although exposure

of citizens and workers generally did not exceed

international limits this study recommended a

number of proposals for improvement – the ultimate

aim would be complete compatibility between

medical and security devices [Page 178]

THZ-BRIDGE –Tera-hertz radiation in Biological

Research, Investigations on Diagnostics and

Study on Potential Genotoxic Effects

The study found that use of tera-hertz radiation in

medical applications using appropriate limits should

not cause harm to subjects - at least for a single

31

Noise-related

health impacts

Noise annoys Europe

In Europe it is estimated that:

113 million people are exposed to noise levels high enough to have serious health consequences

10 million people are exposed to ambient noise levels that can lead to hearing loss

30 million people are exposed to occupational noise that endangers their hearing

European context

As can be seen from the figures (see box) noise is

the environmental factor that reaches, and disturbs,

the largest number of Europeans We live in a world

of noise; in fact many city dwellers feel distinctly

uncomfortable in remote rural places where the

constant urban rumble is silent!

Noise can interfere with communication, cause

sleep disturbance and cardiovascular effects

It can affect metal health, reduce performance,

causes annoyance and can alter social behaviour

At high levels it can impair hearing There are also

suggested links to children’s ability to learn The

greatest disturbance at the social level is created by

transport, whilst the greatest hazard is probably still

to be found in heavy industry

FP5 projects –

Highlighting noise as a problem

It is hard to estimate the exact impact of noise itself

as it is often accompanied by other environmental

hazards such as air pollution or chemical

exposure Research under FP5 has drawn

attention to noise-related health effects and is

providing scientific evidence for establishing clear

noise regulation in the European Union The four

research projects explicitly on noise represented

just over 4% of the budget allocated under FP5

environment and health

Research results

Three of the FP5 projects related primarily to transport noise Clear evidence of links between noise effects and classroom performance and a number of health indicators were made, although some conflicting evidence was observed between different transport modes The additive effect of noise on top of other environmental stressors, for example chemical solvents, was also clearly demonstrated

In addition to these results, aspects of noise pollution health effects were also investigated in the wide ranging PINCHE project and the HEARTS projects on health effects of transport (the additive effect of noise with other stressors) The PINCHE network made a specific recommendation to limit noise exposure from personal music players, such as MP3 players, to young people For more information on both these projects see the Multiple Stressors chapter

The mounting evidence from FP5 and previous research was a significant input to the EU Directive

on Environmental Noise adopted in June 2002 that laid down a common basis for tackling noise problems across Europe

Further work

In FP6 no specific projects on noise and health were funded, but noise was included as an important environmental stressor in major integrated

32

assessment projects such INTARESE23 Other FP6

projects which cover aspects of noise pollution in

their remit, but are not directly health-related, are

HARMONOISE24 (New methods for noise mapping),

IMAGINE25 (Improved methods for the assessment

of the generic impact of noise in the environment)

and CALM26 (Coordination of European research for

advanced transport noise mitigation)

For FP7 noise is included as one of the priorities

for funding within the Environment and Health

activity 1 “Health effects of exposure to emerging

environmental stressors” within the Environment

(including Climate Change) theme of the Cooperation

programme27

project summary sheets

Noise and Health HYENA –Hypertension and Exposure to Noise near Airports

This study evaluated impacts of aircraft and other transport noise on the blood pressure of local residents, the effects of traffic-related pollution and stress-related hormones Its final report is due

NOISECHEM – Noise and Industrial Chemicals:

Interaction Effects on Hearing and Balance

The combination of noise and organic solvent exposure in the workplace leads to higher than expected hearing loss This multiplying effect means Occupational Exposure Limits for solvents may not sufficiently protect exposed workforces [Page 184]

NOPHER – Noise Pollution Health Effects

Reduction

This project has brought improved focus to research

on noise pollution and health in Europe and developed a consensus on the strength of causal relationship between noise and health effects

[Page 186]

RANCH – Road Traffic and Aircraft Noise Exposure and Children’s Cognition and Health: Exposure-effect Relationships and Combined Effects

High levels of aircraft noise can impair a child’s reading ability, but this effect is not reflected in observations made on road traffic No relationship between noise and health was found and links between noise and blood pressure and sleep disturbance were inconclusive [Page 188]

UV light and ionising related health impacts

radiation-The ABC of UV

Ultraviolet (UV) light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum It is found at frequencies higher than visible light and is therefore invisible to the human eye – although some animals can see in UV It is more energetic than visible light When considering the effect of UV radiation and the environment the UV range is often subdivided into UV-A, UV-B, UV-C The energy of the light increases from A to C Fortunately most UV-B and UV-C is filtered out by the atmospheric ozone layer found at high altitude as this has greater ionising potential – the ability to break chemical bonds and produced charged molecules and atoms called ions

European context

A lazy day in the sun is enjoyable for most people

Most of us imagine sunny days on the beach or

in the countryside when we think about vacations

Exposure to UV-B light also induces the production

of vitamin-D Lack of vitamin D can lead to a range of

cancers and also bone disease Ultraviolet radiation

is used in medical applications for the treatment of

some skin conditions such as psoriasis

However, UV light has the capacity to break chemical

bonds and targets multiple molecules in living tissue,

including DNA It can be harmful to the eyes, skin and immune system and is a major and increasing cause of skin cancer UV can also react with a diverse range of chemicals, due to its bond breaking ability, turning benign species into harmful carcinogens

FP5 projects – UV light and cancer

The research aimed to identify carcinogenic environmental factors due to UV, explain how the effects are expressed and detect early signs of harmful exposure and oxidative stress This can lead to new strategies for countering carcinogenic

processes before they lead to cancer itself

Other health and safety aspects

of ionising radiation sources, such as those found in medical applications (X-rays), are covered mainly under European research carried out for the Euratom Research Framework Programmes

Five projects were undertaken

in this area during FP5 They represent around 4% of the total budget allocated under environment and health

34

was highlighted in melanoma development and two

genetic biomarkers that could help early diagnosis

of a health issue due to UV-A stress were identified

Studies also indicated that prophylactic medical UV

should not be used to prevent UV induced immune

health risks A large-scale investigation of sun allergies

showed their prevalence in Europe and illuminated

some new therapies and medical guidelines

Another aspect of ionising radiation is the long-term

effect of large scale nuclear accidents on health A

review of the effect of post event iodine medication

on thyroid cancer following the Chernobyl incident

demonstrated that this was a useful precaution if

similar events took place in the future

Future work

No specific projects on UV radiation health effects

were undertaken in FP6 but they were included

in the multiple stressor risk assessment projects

such as INTARESE and NOMIRACLE In FP7 UV

will be one of the environmental stressors evaluated

as part of the integrated approaches under the

Environment theme of the Cooperation Programme,

Environment and Health activity.28

FP5 Projects list

Brief details of each project in this area are given

below For more details please see the individual

project summary sheets

IHA-UV –Immunological Health and Adaptation

following Chronic Exposure to Environmental

Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation

By monitoring skin adaptations during UV radiation

courses on both human and animal subjects it

was concluded that, overall, the use of low-dose

UV exposures as a precautionary measure to

reduce UV induced immune health risks could not

Damage to a single tumour suppressor gene was shown to play a key role in melanoma development The role played by heat and UV-A radiation was also highlighted in the formation of malignant tumours

[Page 192]

PREVENTION BIOMARKERS – New markers of Oxidative Stress to Humans: a Role in Developing New Strategies for Human Protection against Environmental (UV-A) Damage to Skin

Bio-New biomarkers for environmental stress due to

UV-A exposure were developed and tested Two genes known to be activated by oxidative stress were shown to be consistently activated by UV-A stress

on the skin of people on a low flavonoid diet

[Page 194]

SUNALL –Allergy to the Sun: Multidisciplinary Investigation on the Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention of Polymorphic Light Eruption across Europe

Polymorphic Light eruption is one of the more common sun-provoked skin allergies This project sought to determine the prevalence and severity of the condition across Europe improving diagnostic criteria, targeting new therapies and providing guidelines on prevention Final report will be

THYRRISK – Environmental and Host Factors in the Risk of Thyroid Cancer

This project will recommend the preventative ingestion of iodine following exposure to radioactive iodine to reduce thyroid cancer risk The result derives from a large case-control study on thyroid cancer risk in the Belarus and Russia post Chernobyl

[Page 198]

3

28 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/home_en.html

Multiple stressors and factors and health impacts

European context

Exposure to only a single environmental stressor in

normal life is unlikely What is the cumulative effect of

the variety of environmental stressors that we face

as part of daily life? Is the effect additive, negative,

zero or more complex? Clearly there is a need to

understand the interactions of stressors and adapt

regulation and risk management accordingly

FP5 projects and Research results –

Reflecting complexity

A small number of diverse projects were launched

in FP5 to assess and attempt to unravel the relative

contributions of multiple environmental stressors to

certain health issues

The seven projects undertaken in this area

represent over 5% of the FP5 budget allocated

to environment and health Their diversity means

that broad analysis of the results is not feasible

However, the methodology employed – integrated

environment and health risk assessment – showed

its effectiveness and utility and pointed the way

forward for future FPs

Integrated risk assessment projects obtained over

30% of the funding during FP6 and this approach

of integrating multiple factors to obtain a more

“real-world” picture will continue in FP7

FP5 Projects list

Brief details of each project in this area are given

below For more details please see the individual

project summary sheets

E21-4AYC – Environmental Influences and Infection as Aetiological Agencies in Atopy and Asthma in Young Children

Important gene-environment interactions in the development of atopy and asthma were found and suggest that reducing domestic allergen exposure alone will not decrease disease incidence However, indoor NO2 was clearly associated with lower respiratory tract infection The study results do not support delayed introduction of solid food as protective in development of asthma and allergy

to sunlight during childhood Decreased risk was observed for subjects with diabetes, hypertension, asthma, arthrosis and a history of food allergy Regular statin (cholesterol lowering medication) use also reduces lymphoma risk [Page 202]

36

effects of road transport incorporating noise,

emissions, road crashes, air pollution, pedestrians

and exposure modelling was developed New

approaches to urban planning will be required with

investment to reduce traffic emissions and improve

indoor air quality in public transport [Page 206]

PARSIFAL – Prevention of Allergy – Risk Factors

for Sensitisation in Children related to Farming

and Anthroposophic Lifestyle

Farmers’ children and Steiner school children were

both found to exhibit lower markers for atopic

disease than their control groups This protective

effect was broadly applicable House dust samples

suggest the children are exposed to higher levels

of endotoxin, exopolysaccharides and glucans than

the controls; differences in intestinal bacteria have

PASTURE – Protection against Allergy: Study in

Rural Environments

Comparisons of farming and non-farming families

showed differences in serum IgE levels between

farming and non-farming newborns and differing

maternal exposures were reflected in cytokine levels

PDCAAE – Prevalence and Determinants of

Childhood Asthma and Allergies across Europe

The study found that links between asthma and

atopic sensitisation differ between populations

and economic development factors are important

mediators Risk factors include lifestyle and

environmental factors with a substantial underlying

heterogeneity of genetic risk factors for asthma

[Page 212]

PINCHE – Policy Interpretation Network on

Children’s Health and Environment

Recommendations to protect childrens’ health and

environment include, in priority order: reducing

exposure to traffic pollution, environmental tobacco smoke, allergic symptoms, ozone, hydrocarbons, metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury, and reducing a variety of indoor pollutants such

as mould, radon and formaldehyde Detrimental, excessive exposure to noise from personal music players was also highlighted as a hazard

[Page 214]

3

Waterborne stressor-related

health impacts

European context

The provision of clean drinking water has a key role

in establishing public health: maintaining the quality

of all water used for bathing is also essential

Waterborne pathogens, other bacteria and

contamination (including arsenic and cadmium)

are easily assimilated into the body and can have

severe health effects

FP5 projects and Research results –

Safer water

Around 3% of the total FP5 funding allocated under

environment and health was spent in this area Work

included new DNA chip technology for water quality

assessment that should help ensure the safety of

bathing and drinking water across Europe New

methodology and better understanding was also

developed for cyanotoxin risk assessment studies

that will reinforce public health protection in line with

WHO and EU directives The dental community and

their patients will benefit from the results of a risk

assessment of water quality in dental units – this

identified a need for cleaning products that target

biofilm formation

Future work

In FP6 four further projects representing 6% of

the budget under Environment and Health were

undertaken on waterborne stressors These

ongoing projects cover assessment of human

health effects caused by bathing waters

(EPI-BATHE29), assessment of human health impacts

from emerging microbial pathogens in drinking

water by molecular and epidemiological studies (HEALTHY WATER30), methods for detection of viruses in bathing water (VIRO-BATHE31) and health impacts of long-term exposure to disinfection by-products in drinking water (HI-WATE32)

For FP7 research on waterborne stressors is included as one of the priorities for funding within the Environment and Health activity 1 “Health effects

of exposure to emerging environmental stressors” within the Environment (including Climate Change) theme of the Cooperation programme33

FP5 Project list

Brief details of each project in this area are given below For more details please see the individual project summary sheets

Waterborne Stressors and Health

AQUACHIP –Development and Validation of a DNA-Chip Technology for the assessment of the Bacteriological Quality of Bathing and Drinking Water

The DNA chip technology successfully developed was able to show that drinking and bathing water samples all displayed habitat-specific molecular fingerprints of bacterial microflora with seasonal variations: these fingerprints could act as quality

44% of the dental water samples analysed failed

to meet current EU potable water guidelines with

biofilms identified as the main source of bacterial

contamination and should be targeted Other

pathogens detected indicate potential for cross

PEPCY – Toxic and Bioactive Peptides in

Cyanobacteria

The central objective was to improve cyanotoxin

risk assessment and management and a risk-based

and setting-specific methodology to public health

protection from cyonotoxins was developed in line

with WHO drinking water quality and EU Bathing

Water Directive approaches [Page 220]

3

Climate change-related

health impacts

European context

The effect of climate change on the environment

is yet another complicating factor to add into

a complex situation Modelling of the effects of

global warming indicate a substantial increase in

average temperatures for Europe over the next

decades, possible rises in sea level and a greater

frequency of extreme weather events These

in themselves will impact on health But these

changes in the environment will also affect the

geographical distribution of disease, pathogens

and other undesirable organisms with additional

human health impacts

FP5 Actions and Research results – Additional stress

Only two projects were funded: one looked to model the potential effects of global warming on human diseases patterns and possible adaptation strategies, the other examined acute health effects Both showed that climate change would exacerbate existing or add new environmental stressors to the health issue The funding represented less than 2%

of the total allocated under Environment and Health

of one of the main themes: Environment (including climate change) and research on health impacts of climate change will

be funded from the Environment and Health activity36

FP5 Project list

Brief details of each project in this area are given on the next page For more details please see the individual project summary sheets

40

34 http://www.eden-fp6project.net/

35 Website under construction

36 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/home_en.html