Shaping the future of human biomonitoring (HBM): progress, strategy, and global vision from ISES Europe and the HBM Global Network
Human biomonitoring (HBM) continues to play an indispensable role within exposure science, offering insights into aggregate chemical exposures across populations and life stages. Since 2018, the European chapter of the International Society of Exposure Science Human Biomonitoring Working Group (ISES Europe HBM WG) has aimed to facilitate generation of more and high-quality HBM data. The working group aims to strengthen integration of HBM data into regulatory frameworks through improved study design, harmonized methodologies, and enhanced reporting practices. Key achievements in the past seven years include the harmonization of HBM metadata through development of minimum information requirements for HBM (MIR-HBM), development of chemical-specific BASIC Guides for occupational health and hygiene professionals, and establishment of the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) Environmental and Health Registry (FAIREHR) to enhance data transparency and reusability. Recognizing the need for broader impact, the HBM Global Network was launched in 2025 to promote worldwide collaboration, capacity building, and policy integration. Together, ISES Europe HBM WG and the HBM Global Network form a coordinated platform with shared governance, strategic priorities, and digital infrastructure. This short communication outlines the progress to date, strategic pillars guiding our work, and ongoing initiatives linking science, policy, and practice. We call on researchers, regulators, and stakeholders worldwide to join these networks, strengthen harmonized approaches, and ensure that HBM becomes a cornerstone of 21st-century chemical risk governance.
Authors
- Erin N. Haynes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9110-0477)
- Yu Ait Bamai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2510-4757)
- Maryam Zare Jeddi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9505-812X)
- Radu Corneliu Duca (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9350-3816)
- Kate Jones (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8923-2999)
- Elizabeth Z. Lin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9599-6061)
- Carla Viegas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1545-6479)
- Jihyon Kil
- Maisarah Nasution Waras (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8333-4732)
- Karen S. Galea (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9540-8513)
- Natalie von Goetz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5257-4573)
- Ming Kei Chung (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1739-1186)
- Po‐Chin Huang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9243-0838)
- Paul T.J. Scheepers (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8546-2161)
- Tiina Santonen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8150-4985)
- Adrian Covaci (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0527-1136)
- Manosij Ghosh
- Nancy B. Hopf (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4490-6109)
- Henriqueta Louro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9744-7332)
- Ovnair Sepai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3577-3313)
- Jung‐Hwan Kwon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6341-7562)
- Konstantinos C. Makris (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5251-8619)
- Lesliam Quirós-Alcalá (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6600-7227)
- Asif Qureshi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3329-0166)
- Kyriaki Machera (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6499-3468)
- Robert Kaše (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1020-2285)
- Gustavo Henrique Bianco de Souza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1548-3274)
- M. Bader (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9431-1058)
- Aziza Menouni (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9738-8301)
- Konstantinos M. Kasiotis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6631-0667)
- M. Elizabeth Marder (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9068-9280)
- Eva Kumar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5553-9650)
- Kaoutar Chbihi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5070-3594)
- Maria João Silva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6060-0716)
- Imran Ali (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9274-2295)
- Shoji F. Nakayama (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7772-0389)
- An Van Nieuwenhuyse
- Ana Maria Vekic
Institutions
- Public Health Agency of Sweden (SE)
- Universiti Sains Malaysia (MY)
- University of Kentucky (US)
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- Radboud University Nijmegen (NL)
- University of Antwerp (BE)
- Cyprus University of Technology (CY)
- National Health Research Institutes (TW)
- Chinese University of Hong Kong (HK)
- China Medical University (TW)
- Environment Agency (GB)
- Korea University (KR)
- National Institute for Environmental Studies (JP)
- Hokkaido University (JP)
- Savonia University of Applied Sciences (FI)
- HSE Science and Research Centre (GB)
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FI)
- Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (CH)
- Yale University (US)
- BASF (Germany) (DE)
- Federal Office of Public Health (CH)
- Yale New Haven Health System (US)
- Ministério da Saúde (BR)
- Benaki Phytopathological Institute (GR)
- China Medical University Hospital (TW)
- Institute of Occupational Medicine (GB)
- SBU - Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services (SE)
- National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (PT)
- Kentucky Department for Public Health (US)
- Centre universitaire de médecine générale et santé publique, Lausanne (CH)
- Department of Public Health (MM)
- National Institute of Environmental Research (KR)
- Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IN)
- Shell (Netherlands) (NL)
- Universidade Nova de Lisboa (PT)
- University of California, Davis (US)
- KU Leuven (BE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Environment International
- Published
- 2025-12-07
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2025.109985
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.20