European Added Value

Research capacity and expertise in chemical exposure risk assessment developed uniquely in EIRENE has been proven necessary for the implementation of European strategies and global treaties protecting citizens from chemical hazards but also more broadly for a better understanding of the role that non-genetic (environmental and social) factors play in human health and disease. However, the significant European added value of EIRENE also lies in its ability to integrate and enhance the capabilities of Environmental, Health & Food, and Social & Humanities research infrastructures both at the national and European levels and foster multidisciplinary collaborations, knowledge exchange and harmonization of approaches crucial for addressing complex environmental and health challenges.

EIRENE's interactions with research infrastructures such as ECRIN, EATRIS, BBMRI, ELIXIR, ACTRIS, or SHARE, create synergies that enhance the overall research capacity. The project's membership in the ENVRI Board, the Life Sciences RI Strategy Board, and the ERIC Forum fosters collaboration and coordination among European RIs, ensuring that EIRENE benefits from shared expertise and strategic alignment. Collaborations with joint programmes and partnerships such as HBM4EU and PARC have significantly contributed to the development of necessary capacities, the recognition of harmonized tools and approaches, and their employment in pan-European studies. Partnerships with European agencies such as EFSA, EChA, EEA, and JRC are crucial for incorporating the exposome concept into regulatory decisions, enhancing the relevance and impact of EIRENE's research. EIRENE's involvement with European research clusters EHEN, EURION, ASPIS, CUSP, or IDEAL as well as collaboration with the US initiatives (NEXUS), strengthens its research impact and fosters innovation. Coordination and support actions like IHEN and SPHERA aim to develop a global vision and international cooperation in the exposome field and provide opportunities for global outreach to stakeholders and potential users.

Several good examples already demonstrate the European added value of these efforts. Application of harmonized biomonitoring approaches in the HBM4EU alignment studies and employment of the network of certified laboratories with strict QA/QC procedures brought for the first time representative data on chemical exposure of the European population that can be used in regulatory processes. An alignment of sampling, analytical and data processing procedures across the European laboratories enabled a pesticide exposure study showing significant differences in exposure patterns in different countries. Using residential address history, geospatial science helped link exposures to biological processes in various diseases. All case studies and evidence from these collaborations show that EIRENE's integrated approach leads to more comprehensive research outcomes.