Anna Beronius

The purpose of this project is to build a cross-sectoral collaboration that can support the development and validation of a novel method for identifying endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDs) and ensure its relevance and applicability to meet the needs of regulatory agencies and industry. The principle of the method is based on generating gene transcription signatures for EDs using the Zebrafish Embryo in vitro model. The long-term vision is to contribute next-generation methodology for ED identification that can facilitate time- and cost-efficient screening of chemicals and that allows us to reduce and even replace animal tests for this purpose. EDs pose a significant threat to human health and the environment and European authorities point out the critical need for novel methods that can reliably and efficiently identify such substances for regulatory purposes. Validated screening methods also support development and innovation in accordance with the Safe and Sustainable by Design framework. In this project we will conduct a pilot study with a few well-known EDs and propose a workflow for generating transcriptional signatures of EDs as a basis for a long-term project. Through different stakeholder interactions we will identify additional partners and set an agenda for a long-term collaboration. We will also create a communications strategy for different target groups to support method acceptance and implementation.

INQUIRE aims to protect citizen health by providing knowledge, tools, and measures to substantially improve indoor air quality (IAQ). We will conduct research and evaluate innovative actions to reduce hazardous chemical and biological determinants in homes, positively impacting the health of residents. INQUIRE will focus particularly on infants and young children (<5 years old) as highly sensitive groups that spend a substantial time in the home environment. INQUIRE will comprehensively advance our understanding of the determinants of IAQ in homes by implementing innovative, low-cost, non-invasive sampling strategies (sensors, indoor/outdoor passive sampling, urine biomonitoring) to characterize determinants of household IAQ and their importance to human exposure. To capture the breath of IAQ determinants across Europe, the study will monitor for one month over 200 homes distributed across 8 countries, covering a gradient of conditions in each country. Tiered high-resolution chemical and biological screening techniques and wide-scope holistic characterisation of hazards will provide a comprehensive assessment of the determinants of IAQ. Multifaceted data analysis techniques (including machine learning, exposure modelling, geospatial analysis), will link chemical, biological and toxicity profiles with drivers of IAQ to identify sources and prioritize pollutants. Source identification will feed directly into the testing of both novel technologies and readily deployable strategies to improve IAQ, resulting in evidence-based recommendations and a draft of policy strategy for developing IAQ standards. INQUIREs Open Science approach and generated FAIR data on hazardous determinants, their effects, risk factors and sources will endorse continuous exploitation of results. Open dissemination of generated knowledge will raise citizen awareness while exploitation by industry and policy makers will endorse a transition towards homes with zero pollution. The project INQUIRE is part of the European cluster on indoor air quality and health, IDEAL.