The first two PARC occupational studies are underway, focusing on waste management and healthcare. 

In waste processing study, worker´s exposure will be assessed with a focus on e-waste and plastics. Substances of interest include metals, flame retardants, phthalates, plasticizers, bisphenols, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in companies located across 13 countries (Portugal, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, Greece, Finland, Denmark, Poland, Switzerland, Cyprus, UK). In the healthcare survey, exposures to cytotoxic drugs, disinfection and cleaning products and inhalation anesthetics will be evaluated in hospital-based healthcare setting in 11 countries (Netherlands, France, Spain, Latvia, Italy, Portugal, Luxembourg, Finland, Czechia, Norway and UK).

After two years of preparation, the prioritised substances of interest and the most suitable exposure and effect biomarkers were identified. Standard operating procedures and training videos were developed to support sample and data collection across field campaigns at more than 40 study locations. Laboratories will perform the analyses of biomarkers and supporting occupational hygiene samples. Currently, all participating institutes have submitted their study protocols for ethics approval, and many have already received ethical approval. Recruitment of workplaces and workers, and sampling for the waste management study have already started in some countries, while recruitment for the healthcare study is planned to start in the fall.  

Exciting and demanding times lie ahead as valuable exposure data will be collected to support occupational safety and health, REACH ↗, and environmental policies. This effort aims to engage employers, and workers to adopt the best available work practices to further reduce worker’s exposures, promoting safe and healthy working conditions.