The General Biomonitoring Survey (LëtzHBM), led by the Health Protection Department at the Laboratoire national de santé (LNS), started on March 5^th 2025 in Luxembourg.

In our daily lives, we are exposed to a wide range of chemicals, some of which may pose risks to our health. In this context, it is crucial to implement human biomonitoring and environmental monitoring national programs to continuously assess and follow up the presence of certain chemicals in the human body and domestic environment.

In Luxembourg, the LëtzHBM survey will take place from 2025 to 2027, involving 600 volunteer participants (300 children and 300 adults), primarily recruited through the Services de Médecine scolaire. This survey will measure selected chemical substances in both biological samples (urine, blood, and hair) and domestic environmental samples (air, dust, and water).

LëtzHBM is part of a broad European project named Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC), a collaborative effort involving nearly 200 institutions from 30 European countries, including Luxembourg, as well as three European agencies: the European Environment Agency (EEA), the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).  The overall goal of PARC is to develop better risk assessment tools for chemical exposure to protect human health and the environment.

The analytical results collected from all participating countries will provide quantitative information on chemical exposure, as well as valuable insights into the health impacts associated with environmental chemical exposure. These findings will help inform policymakers in their efforts to develop or refine laws and interventions for the safe management of chemicals and the protection of human health across Europe.

This survey is co-financed by the European Commission and the Ministère de la Santé et de la Sécurité sociale in Luxembourg, and is under the responsibility of the Health Protection Department at the LNS.  The survey has been approved by the Ministère de la Santé et de la Sécurité Sociale, with favorable opinions from the Direction de la Santé and the Comité National d’Éthique de Recherche.

Read more about the General Biomonitoring Survey in Luxembourg: https://lns.lu/en/general-biomonitoring-survey-in-luxembourg/