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Human contamination by persistent toxic substances: the rationale to improve exposure assessment

  • 12th IHPA Forum and selected studies on POPs
  • Published:
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Abstract

We know quite a lot about the generalized human contamination by environmental chemical agents; this statement is fully compatible with the view that most countries lack the necessary monitoring systems. We also know quite a lot about the toxic effects of environmental pollutants; this statement is fully compatible with the proposal that we need both more research and more energetic policies to decrease human contamination by such pollutants. Unsurprisingly, we know too little about the (environmental and social) causes and the etiopathogenesis (mechanisms) of the most prevalent diseases, and we will continue to miss relevant causes and mechanisms if we neglect the toxic chemicals that commonly contaminate humans, worldwide. Basic, clinical end environmental–epidemiological research on human health should more often consider integrating biomarkers of internal dose of environmental chemical pollutants. When we act in more responsible, rational, and scientific ways; when we become less dismissive towards environmental hazards; and when we thus neglect less the generalized human contamination by environmental chemical agents and their toxic effects, we will expand mechanistic biologic knowledge, and we shall as well increase the effectiveness of interventions and policies that enable the primary prevention of human diseases which cause huge amounts of economic burden and human suffering.

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Acknowledgments

The author gratefully acknowledges valuable assistance from Tomàs López, José Pumarega, Magda Gasull, and Yolanda Rovira. The invitation and support from Margret Schlumpf and Walter Lichtensteiger are also gratefully acknowledged.

Conflict of interest

The author declares no competing interests.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hospital del Mar Institute of Medical Research (IMIM), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    Miquel Porta

  2. School of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Miquel Porta

  3. Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA

    Miquel Porta

  4. CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain

    Miquel Porta

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  1. Miquel Porta
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Correspondence to Miquel Porta.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

This paper is based on the author’s presentation to the 12th HCH and Pesticides Forum held in Kiev, Ukraine, on 6 November 2013, Symposium Health problems at obsolete pesticides sites (Exposure and Toxicity of Pesticides), Chair: Margret Schlumpf, Co-chairs: Walter Lichtensteiger and Finn Bro-Rasmussen.

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Porta, M. Human contamination by persistent toxic substances: the rationale to improve exposure assessment. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 14560–14565 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3460-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3460-0

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