Est. 1min 24-02-2006 (updated: 04-06-2012 ) Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram A new 15 million euro research project has been launched to investigate exposure to chemicals in food and the environment and their connection with childhood cancer and immune disorders. NewGeneris will look specifically into “maternal exposure during pregnancy to carcinogenic and immunotoxic chemicals” and their effect on young children after they are born. Diseases researchers think might be triggered by the presence of chemicals in humans include cancer, asthma, rhinitis and eczema/dermatitis. To assess chemical exposure, the researchers will analyse blood and urine samples from mothers and children taken across several ‘biobanks’ in Norway, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Spain and Greece. In total, around 300,000 mother and baby pairs will be studied, indicated the project coordinators. The toxic chemicals selected for further investigation include dioxins, PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyl), ethanol (alcohol) and other substances ingested by mothers or found in contaminated food, tobacco smoke or polluted air. Ultimately, the project’s aim is “to contribute to the protection of child health through the formulation of improved health policies, more effective food regulations specially targeted at children and better food quality”. Read more with Euractiv Commission reveals plans for European Institute of Technology The Commission has presented its plans for the establishment of a European Institute of Technology (EIT) by 2009. Universities and the Commission's own research advisory group have strongly criticised the project. Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters Positions"Cancer incidence in European children has shown clear evidence of acceleration during recent decades, as has the worldwide prevalence of childhood immune disorders," says the press release announcing the launch of the NewGeneris project. "The major challenge is not just to ascertain the presence of such chemicals in the blood of mothers and children, but to produce new insights into the biological consequences," it says. The European Chemicals Industry Council (CEFIC) sees such 'biomonitoring' techniques as "a promising public health tool" but it warns that they should not be misused. Biomonotoring only provides "a one-off measurement" which "does not provide any information on whether the levels vary over time or what the source of exposure was," CEFIC says. "On their own, these measurements do not provide enough information to determine risk or health effects," says CEFIC. BackgroundNewGeneris was launched on 1 February 2006 as a new European Integrated Research Project under the Community's 6th Framework Research Programme (FP6). It brings together 25 institutions from 16 European countries with a budget of 15 million euros over five years. The new research project is part of the EU Environment and Health Strategy (SCALE), launched in 2003 and its related action plan adopted a year later (see related LinksDossier). It will also feed into the ongoing debate surrounding the REACH proposal to assess and possibly ban chemical substances in the EU (see related LinksDossier). Timeline 2011: The findings of NewGeneris will be communicated to European citizens and stakeholders Further ReadingEuropean Union NewGeneris:NewGeneris: A new European research project on children’s health, food and the environment Commission (DG Research):Endocrine Disrupter Research projects Commission (DG Environment):Endocrine Disrupters Website Commission (DG Environment):Human biomonitoring - Update on developments(19 Oct. 2005) European Human Biomonitoring:Homepage EU Actors positions CEFIC:Biomonitoring and human health WWF:Children often more contaminated than their mothers, new WWF report shows WWF:Unwanted gift for life: children exposed to hazardous chemicals before birth GreenFacts:Scientific Facts on Endocrine Disruptors Biomonitoring Info:Website American Chemistry Council:biomonitoring Healthy Children Project:Website
