The Service “Environmental Hygiene and Human Biological Monitoring” carries out laboratory analyses – chemical and microbiological – in dust, air and surface samples (ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation). In parallel, the Service analyses the concentrations of substances or their metabolites directly in human medical samples, for example blood, urine, hair. The Service measures not only human biomarkers of exposure (ISO 15189 and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation), but is expanding its portfolio of human biomarkers of effect relevant in the pathways of disease development and progression.
We analyze indoor environment samples (e.g. air, dust and surface) that are collected in patients’ houses, in public buildings, in private companies or at the workplace. Chemical and metal analyses are our historical strengths since the 90’s and we adhere to the international guidelines and state-of-the-art. Since end 2022, the new Laboratory Microbiology of the Built Environment has become operational within the Service.
Furthermore, we also analyze human biological samples, including blood, urine, hair for chemical and microbiological substances and/or their metabolites. This activity, called “human biomonitoring”, allows to monitor and measure the exposure of patients to various substances. Aside from exposure biomarkers, we develop novel health biomarkers and effect biomarkers, playing a role in the pathways of diseases development and progression.
As National Health Laboratory, we limit our analyses for indoor pollution and occupational hygiene to situations with a documented health problem in patients or workers. We thus proceed with analyses following a medical prescription or a request from general practitioners, specialist-physicians, occupational health physicians, safety & health referents or equivalent, or at the request of the Ministry of Health.
For the “human biomonitoring” activity, we also measure in the Luxembourgish population without known health problems. By doing so, we may provide policy-makers with estimates of the exposure and the potential health risks in the general population. This includes also specific time-windows, for example, pregnancy or childhood, during which exposure to harmful substances may have a major impact on health in the later life.
For more information on the performed analyses, please refer to https://lns.lu/carnet-danalyse/
For more information on the ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO15 189 accreditation:
Our technical responsible participate in several working groups at (inter-)national level to ensure that the laboratory implements the state-of-the-art in environmental and occupational health. For example: the OECD Expert Group on “Using Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOP) to address combined exposures to chemicals with relevant effect-biomarkers” and Biological Exposure Indices (BEI) Committee of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH®) USA.
We are a major driver in the Health Partnerships in environmental and occupational health:
HBM4EU was a joint effort of 30 countries, the European Environment Agency and the European Commission, co-funded under Horizon 2020. The initiative has coordinated and advanced human biomonitoring in Europe. HBM4EU has generated evidence of the actual exposure of citizens to chemicals and the possible health effects in order to support policy- making.
We accommodate Post-docs, PhD students and internships of Master students. We welcome 1 or 2 students each year. Together with the University of Luxembourg, we are partners in the Euro-African Biomonitoring Network for the assessment of environmental exposure in population through universities and occupational health services (ERASMUS+ Project).
