Key messages

• Novel approaches for assessing chemical exposure bring significant progress in detecting chemical burden, but challenges remain due to the complexity of chemical behaviour and the limitations of covering the entire chemical space.
• Some chemicals metabolise rapidly or accumulate in tissues not routinely investigated in classical human biomonitoring, risking underestimation of true exposure unless complementary matrices are investigated.
• Ongoing research aims to evaluate the applicability and added value of these complementary analytical strategies.
• The potential of these approaches for chemical prioritisation and their contribution to early warning systems is under active investigation.

Overview

This project aims to enhance the detection and understanding of human exposure to chemical contaminants by applying and evaluating advanced, complementary methodologies. Building on previous studies focused on perinatal and occupational exposure, it explores additional innovative strategies to strengthen existing suspect and non-targeted screening. It investigates complementary separation techniques, such as hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography, and assesses the potential of ion mobility mass spectrometry to add an extra dimension of separation.

To further broaden the range of detectable substances, the project also evaluates alternative sample preparation methods, including, dilute & shoot and the use of supramolecular solvents as an alternative to conventional extraction technique. These developments are applied to human biomonitoring samples to demonstrate their practical applicability, while simultaneously identifying biomarkers that may support chemical prioritisation efforts and contribute to early warning systems.

In parallel, the project investigates the use of alternative, non-invasive biological matrices such as hair, to capture additional biomarkers if exposure that may be overlooked when relying solely on traditional matrices like urine and blood. Current regulatory frameworks struggle to keep pace with the expanding chemical landscape and emerging contaminants.

This initiative supports the development of more responsive and adaptive approaches by improving the practical application of high-resolution mass spectrometry-based methods and expanding the scope of detectable substances.

Additionally, the project integrates insights from cross-cutting efforts in quality control and data processing, applying them to new sample sets and reinforcing the connection to aligned studies. Ultimately, this work supports the early identification of chemical hazards and contributes to the evolution of safer, more proactive regulatory practices.

Achievements & Results

• The project demonstrated the applicability of hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography for biomonitoring polar biomarkers of exposure.
• The project explores the usefulness of hair as an alternative matrix to complement innovative approaches for assessing chemical exposure.
• The project will evaluate the advantages, limitations, and applicability of various sample preparation methods, providing evidence to identify which approach best serves as a general method for capturing the broadest chemical space.
• Several cohorts of human biomonitoring samples have been selected and will be analysed using these innovative approaches to: document real-life chemical co-exposures and support chemical prioritisation; provide proof-of-concept for the applied methodologies; address specific research questions related to the characteristics of selected cohorts; and validate outputs of other PARC projects, in particular "Harmonising quality of chemical and bio-effect directed suspect and non-target screening methods across fields" and "Establishment of advanced data processing methodologies and bioinformatic tools for a non-targeted screening repository".

Policy relevance

• Broader compound coverage and improved capacity to monitor exposure trends will strengthen understanding of the chemical exposome and support the development of more effective prevention and risk management measures.
• Contribution to the development of templates for harmonised reporting of non-targeted and suspect screening data.
• Contribution to the preparation of a common QA/QC chemical mixture for harmonised method performance assessment.
• Contribution to documenting real-life chemical exposures in specific human biomonitoring subgroups, providing a basis for further chemical prioritisation.