Research Goal 2 covers toxic chemicals and their mixtures to which the population is exposed via food, drinking water, consumer products or wastes, but also through the contaminated environment, i.e. air, house dust, and soil. Adverse health effects of environmental exposures to toxic chemicals are a function of the levels and intrinsic properties of these chemicals individually and in mixtures. The properties of chemicals include their mobility, ability to interact in/with the abiotic environment and with living systems (biota). However, people are also exposed to other stressors of anthropogenic origin, such as nanoparticles, plastics, radiation, or biological agents. Physical and biological stressors interaction with living systems is also of high relevance. Hence effects of environmental exposures on experimental systems, wildlife and humans are considered, the latter especially in relation to development of chronic conditions, diseases and disorders. RG2 is organized into two main sections that describe a) specific anthropogenic agents/stressors such as chemical mixtures, emerging chemicals, plastics micro and nano-particles, radiation and biological agents and b) environmental media of external exposure such as food, soil, water and air. We also highlight the role of wastes (e.g. related to circular economy). The text below describes individual stressors in a greater detail in relation to the overarching objective of this research goal: improving our environment to become safer/non-toxic environment through a) less input of contaminants into the environment and b) thorough improved assessment of anthropogenic stressors concentrations in the environment of and human/environmental exposure to them.
RG 2.1 Chemicals including legacy chemicals, emerging chemicals and mixtures
Research on major exposures
Multidisciplinary approaches particularly on the effects of mixtures including new approaches in risk assessment (see RG4).
Missing tools
Interpretation and communication of risks
RG 2.2 Plastics including micro- and nano-plastics
Micro-/nanoplastics and nanoparticles
Plastics and related chemicals
Biodegradable alternative to plastics
RG 2.3 Biological Agents
Better/Novel Exposure assessment techniques
Emerging sources and effects of exposure to biological agents
Linked needs
RG 2.4 Radiation
Enhancing studies on new technologies including 5G (and future new technologies
Digitalisation
Low level (often with long duration) exposures
Long-term effects of light exposure patterns
RG 2.5 Water contamination
Assessment of human exposure to chemicals in drinking water
Integration of multiple exposure routes (water, food and air)
Improved analytical techniques including high-throughput techniques
Development and application of tools
RG 2.6 Food and soil contamination
Research on prevention and elimination of adverse effects and inequalities
Research on effects of increased soil salinity
Developing new methods in soil decontamination
Developing tools for comprehensive assessment of contaminants
Effect of food packaging
RG 2.7 Air contamination
Research beyond the priority pollutants
Research on air quality and health related
Research on chronic exposure to air contaminants and biological effects
Research on measurement methods for nanoparticles
Research combining improved exposure assessment with cohort data
RG 2.8 Wastes
General investigation of toxicity
Methods on how to extract substances
Generation of comparable/sufficient data on toxic substance use
Identify safe limits for recycling and safe reuse
Assessments of the impact of environmental exposure to metals
Improve knowledge on consumers handling
Understanding of potential health risks