NATIONAL HUBS
Austria

Contact Point
- Dr. Maria Uhl, MToxmaria.uhl@umweltbundesamt.at
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management is the Programme Owner of HBM4EU in Austria.
EAA, MUI, UMIT, AGES and MUW are members of the Austrian Human Biomonitoring platform and constitute now as the National Hub within HBM4EU.
Experts in science and administration who are active in the field of Human Biomonitoring are working together, under the management of the Environment Agency Austria, on the Austrian Human Biomonitoring platform. The platform was founded in 2007 and has set itself the task to establish Human Biomonitoring to promote health and environmental protection in Austria and to support national prevention targets. Since September 2016 the platform has been an official advisory body of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management in matters relating to the interface between the environment and human health.
HBM4EU partners in Austria
HBM4EU linked third parties in Austria
Belgium
In Belgium both a national and a Flemish hub were established. The Flemish hub brings in the past, ongoing and future HBM activities of the Flemish Policy Research Center for Environment and Health (Flemish HBM campaign, data, knowledge etc.). The national hub bundles the HBM activities on a Belgian level (e.g. nation-wide HBM campaign like Democophes). In this framework, the national and the Flemish hub are represented by the same national representatives on EU level. Exchange of knowledge is ensured by participation of the Flemish PO, PM and LTPs in the NEHAP HBM working group.
Belgium has a long lasting cooperation in the field of Environment & Health. All Belgian Ministers of Environment and Health (federal, communal and regional) assemble in the JICEH, the Joint Interministerial Conference Environment and Health. Representatives of the Ministers’ administrations are assembled in the National Cell Health-Environment, which is the executive body for the day to day activities. This structure allows to conduct joint studies and projects concerning health and environment, but also to exchange experiences. Belgium has set up its National Environment-Health Action Plan (NEHAP) in 2003 and will launch a third version of the plan in 2018.
More information on the Belgian cooperation and projects can be found on www.nehap.be
HBM4EU partners in Belgium

HBM4EU linked third parties in Belgium
Croatia

Contact Point
- Dubravka Marija Krekovićdubravkamarija.krekovic@miz.hr
HBM4EU partners in Croatia
HBM4EU linked third parties in Croatia
Cyprus

- Γενικό Χημείο του Κράτους, Υπουργείο Υγείας, Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία
- State General Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Republic of Cyprus
Contact Point
- Δρ. Ανδρομάχη Κατσονούρηakatsonouri@sgl.moh.gov.cy
- Dr. Andromachi Katsonouriakatsonouri@sgl.moh.gov.cy
HBM4EU partners in Cyprus
HBM4EU linked third parties in Cyprus
Czech Republic
The National Hub of the HBM4EU project in the Czech Republic (CR) consists of the partners with the long-term experience in the area of environment and health. The RECETOX Centre of Masaryk University (MU) coordinating the National Hub has been focused on environmental and human health impacts of toxic chemicals for more than three decades, running international environmental monitoring networks (MONET) as well as birth cohort studies (CELSPAC).
Charles University has been since 1994 – together with the National Institute of Public Health – responsible for national human biomonitoring programme in the CR. Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences has implemented multiple projects addressing health impacts of atmospheric pollution. International Clinical Research Centre (ICRC) of the St. Anne’s University Hospital runs the Kardiovize cohort focused on development of cardiovascular diseases. Biological tissues from the biomonitoring programmes and human cohorts are being analysed in excellent analytical capacities of the accredited laboratories of the Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition of University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague, as well as the accredited laboratories of the RECETOX Centre of MU.
Charles University collaborates with the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague on assessment of toxic effects of emerging chemicals. New analytical and toxicological approaches to toxic mixtures of legacy and emerging chemicals are being developed in the RECETOX Centre of MU as well as at University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague. National Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the Czech Republic provides a link to the health surveys.
The National Hub closely collaborates with the National Centre (NC) for Toxic Compounds of the CR, a joint activity of the Czech Ministry of Environment and MU. The NC Board consisting of representatives of all relevant ministries as well as non-government organisations acts as a science-to-policy board of the HBM4EU project in the Czech Republic. Capacities of the Regional Centre of the Stockholm Convention for Capacity Building and Technology Transfer in Central and Eastern Europe, hosted by RECETOX, will be used in the future for dissemination and exploitation of the project results.
HBM4EU partners in Czech Republic
HBM4EU linked third parties in Czech Republic
Denmark

HBM4EU partners in Denmark

HBM4EU linked third parties in Denmark
Finland

Contact Point
- Hanna Tolonenhanna.tolonen@thl.fi
HBM4EU partners in Finland
HBM4EU linked third parties in Finland
France
HBM4EU partners in France
HBM4EU linked third parties in France
Germany

Contact Point
- Petra ApelHBM4EU-NHCP-Ger@uba.de
The German National Hub is the German Human Biomonitoring Commission (HBM Commission) complemented by the German linked third parties of HBM4EU and the German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA). The members of the HBM Commission are appointed in person by the president of the German Environment Agency. They are scientists, experts from federal agencies, state authorities, universities, public health institutes and clinical institutions. The permanent guests of the HBM Commission represent the Permanent Working Group of the Highest Health Authorities of the Federal States (AOLG), different ministries and federal agencies. The HBM Commission advises UBA within the field of HBM and derives the German HBM values as well as the reference values.
HBM4EU partners in Germany
HBM4EU linked third parties in Germany
Greece

- EnvE-Lab, ΑΡΙΣΤΟΤΕΛΕΙΟ ΠΑΝΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΙΟ ΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΝΙΚΗΣ
- EnvE-Lab, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH)
Contact Point
- Prof. Denis A. Sarigiannisdenis@eng.auth.gr
HBM4EU partners in Greece
HBM4EU linked third parties in Greece
Hungary

Contact Point
- Tamás Szigetitamas.szigeti@oki.antsz.hu
HBM4EU partners in Hungary
HBM4EU linked third parties in Hungary
Iceland

In Iceland, human biomonitoring falls both directly and indirectly under the remit of three different governmental agencies: The Directorate of Health (under the Minister of Welfare), The Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority (under the Ministry of Industries and Innovation) and The Environment Agency of Iceland (under the Ministry for the Environment). When it comes to human biomonitoring these agencies usually work closely with researcher at the University of Iceland and Matis both in terms of sharing of expertise and data.
The HBM4EU initiative provides an excellent opportunity for better sharing of resources and expertise, which will lead to higher level of focus and ambitions for human biomonitoring projects being conducted in the future.
HBM4EU partners in Iceland
HBM4EU linked third parties in Iceland
Ireland
HBM4EU partners in Ireland
HBM4EU linked third parties in Ireland
Israel

Contact Point
- Dr. Tamar Berman Tamar.berman@moh.health.gov.il
The Israeli Ministry of Health collects biological samples for HBM as part of its National Health and Nutrition Survey. Activities within HBM4EU include:
- Input of Israel HBM data for data sharing and harmonization
- Evaluating experiences on using Health and Nutrition surveys as a platform for HBM
- Sharing data and expertise on evaluating exposure to pesticide mixtures
HBM4EU partners in Israel
HBM4EU linked third parties in Israel
Italy

Contact Point
- Alessandro Alimonti alessandro.alimonti@iss.it
The Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) – The Italian National Institute of Health – is the leading technical and scientific public body of the Italian National Health Service. Its activities include research, control, training and consultation in the interest of public health protection. The ISS is involved in collaboration and consultation with other institutions responsible for public health, including the Ministry of Health, the regional health authorities, local health agencies and hospitals.
In particular, the Department of Environment and Health has the mission to protect the human population through the definition and control of types and sources of chemical and biological risks, especially of environmental origin. It defines guidelines for the implementation of environmental (bio) monitoring programs and proposes preventive measures for risk management and reduction. Scientific activities include studies on exposure to chemical, physical and biological agents, and their effects on human health and on environment (water, air, soil). Special consideration is given to: persistent toxic pollutants (PTS such as PAHs, dioxins, PCBs, flame retardants); plant protection products and residues; pesticides, metals; powders and fibers; natural toxins; mutagenic and carcinogenic substances. Research on toxicity mechanisms – using advanced techniques, alternative methods, chemobiokinetic studies and the identification of biomarkers – aims at characterizing health risks in the population, in sensitive groups (e.g. children, pregnant women) and in groups that are particularly susceptible on account of genetic and/or acquired factors.
HBM4EU partners in Italy
HBM4EU linked third parties in Italy
Latvia

Contact Point
- Inese MārtiņsoneInese.Martinsone@rsu.lv
HBM4EU partners in Latvia

HBM4EU linked third parties in Latvia
Lithuania
HBM4EU partners in Lithuania
Luxembourg

Contact Point
- Friedrich MÜHLSCHLEGELFriedrich.MUeHLSCHLEGEL@lns.etat.lu
Laboratoire National de Santé de Luxembourg (Luxembourg National Health Laboratory) is a public institution created by the law of 7 August 2012 and operating under the supervision of the Ministry of Health in Luxembourg. It is organized in a multidisciplinary institute, which along with an administrative department, includes six scientific departments related to the fields of morphological and molecular pathology, genetics, medical biology, microbiology, medicine forensics and health protection.
The purpose of the LNS is to develop analytical and scientific expertise related to the prevention, diagnosis and monitoring of human diseases; to ensure the role of a national control or reference laboratory and to carry out medico-legal tasks. The institution also contributes to the development, harmonization and promotion of technical laboratory methods in collaboration with analytical laboratories in France and abroad. Within the scope of its responsibilities, the LNS also develops research and teaching activities in collaboration with ad hoc partners in Luxembourg and abroad.
The LNS has new premises in Dudelange whose modern infrastructure is in line with the demands related to recent developments in medical and analytical sciences.
The Department of the Health Protection laboratories includes two services and one common analytical platform: the Service for Environmental Health and Biomonitoring (EHB) and the Service for Food Control (SFC). They include 12 National Reference Laboratories for chemical analysis, microbiological analysis and Genetically Modified Organisms.
HBM4EU partners in Luxembourg
HBM4EU linked third parties in Luxembourg
Netherlands

- Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu
- Netherlands National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)
Contact Point
- Prof. Dr. Erik LebretErik.Lebret@rivm.nl
HBM4EU partners in Netherlands
HBM4EU linked third parties in Netherlands
Norway

Contact Point
- Cathrine ThomsenCathrine.Thomsen@fhi.no
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) is a governmental institution placed directly under the Ministry of Health and Care Services (PO). The institute is a national centre in the areas of epidemiology, mental health, infectious diseases control, environmental medicine and drug abuse. The NIPH is PM in HBM4EU and the National Hub Contact Point in Norway.
NIPH will be involved in all pillars of HBM4EU and will act as an advisor and co-worker for the handling, evaluation and interpretation of all biomonitoring data. In addition, NIPH foresees to be contributing to the chemical analyses to be undertaken in the course of the project, and furthermore, with samples and data from the Norwegian Environmental Biobank. NIPH will also contribute with toxicological expertise covering toxico-kinetics, adverse outcomes, mode of action, adverse outcome pathways and biomarker of effects development. NIPH’s toxicology-, analyses- and nutrition experts have longstanding experience with all aspects of biomonitoring; from planning and implementing studies to clinical investigations, data handling, statistics and writing up and communicating results.
HBM4EU partners in Norway
HBM4EU linked third parties in Norway
Poland
HBM4EU partners in Poland
HBM4EU linked third parties in Poland
Portugal
HBM4EU partners in Portugal


Slovakia

- Úrad verejného zdravotníctva Slovenskej republiky (ÚVZ SR)
- Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic
Contact Point
- Katarína Halzlovákatarina.halzlova@uvzsr.sk
- Milada Eštókovámilada.estokova@uvzsr.sk
- Michal Jajcajmichal.jajcaj@uvzsr.sk
HBM4EU partners in Slovakia
HBM4EU linked third parties in Slovakia
Slovenia

Contact Point
- Lijana Kononenkolijana.kononenko@gov.si
HBM4EU partners in Slovenia
HBM4EU linked third parties in Slovenia
Spain

Contact Point
- Argelia Castañocastano@isciii.es
- HBM4EUhbm4eu@isciii.es
HBM4EU partners in Spain
HBM4EU linked third parties in Spain
Sweden

Contact Point
- Siiri Latvalasiiri.latvala@naturvardsverket.se
The activities within the Swedish National Hub are in many ways connected to the Swedish national Health Related Monitoring Programme, which is a part of the monitoring programme coordinated by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, the Swedish National Hub can gain experience from other research programmes that the partners and linked third parties are involved in.
The Institute of Environmental Medicine (IMM) host data collected in national and regional health-related environmental monitoring in Sweden. Data and reports prepared within the framework of the Swedish Health Related Monitoring Programme are available here.
HBM4EU partners in Sweden
HBM4EU linked third parties in Sweden
Switzerland

- Schweizerisches Tropen- und Public Health-Institut (SWISS TPH)
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (SWISS TPH)
Contact Point
- Nicole Probst-HenschNicole.Probst@unibas.ch
HBM4EU partners in Switzerland
HBM4EU linked third parties in Switzerland
United Kingdom
