Guidance on minimum information requirements (MIR) from designing to reporting human biomonitoring (HBM)

Zare Jeddi M, Galea KS, Ashley-Martin J, Nassif J, Pollock T, Poddalgoda D, Kasiotis KM, Machera K, Koch HM, López ME, Chung MK, Kil J, Jones K, Covaci A, Ait Bamai Y, Fernandez MF, Kase RP, Louro H, Silva MJ, Santonen T, Katsonouri A, Castaño A, Quirós-Alcalá L, Lin EZ, Pollitt K, Virgolino A, Scheepers PT, Melnyk LJ, Mustieles V, Cañas Portilla AI, Viegas S, von Goetz N, Sepai O, Bird E, Göen T, Fustinoni S, Ghosh M, Dirven H, Kwon JH, Carignan C, Mizuno Y, Ito Y, Xia Y, Nakayama SF, Makris KC, Parsons PJ, Gonzales M, Bader M, Dusinska M, Menouni A, Duca RC, Chbihi K, Jaafari SE, Godderis L, van Nieuwenhuyse A, Qureshi A, Ali I, Trindade CC, Teixeira JP, Bartonova A, Tranfo G, Audouze K, Verpaele S, LaKind J, Mol H, Bessems J, Magagna B, Waras MN, Connolly A, Nascarella M, Yang W, Huang PC, Lee J, Heussen H, Goksel O, Yunesian M, Yeung LW, Souza G, Vekic AM, Haynes EN, Hopf NB (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Book Volume: 202

Article Number: 109601

DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109601

Abstract

Human biomonitoring (HBM) provides an integrated chemical exposures assessment considering all routes and sources of exposure. The accurate interpretation and comparability of biomarkers of exposure and effect depend on harmonized, quality-assured sampling, processing, and analysis. Currently, the lack of broadly accepted guidance on minimum information required for collecting and reporting HBM data, hinders comparability between studies. Furthermore, it prevents HBM from reaching its full potential as a reliable approach for assessing and managing the risks of human exposure to chemicals. The European Chapter of the International Society of Exposure Science HBM Working Group (ISES Europe HBM working group) has established a global human biomonitoring community network (HBM Global Network) to develop a guidance to define the minimum information to be collected and reported in HBM, called the “Minimum Information Requirements for Human Biomonitoring (MIR-HBM)”. This work builds on previous efforts to harmonize HBM worldwide. The MIR-HBM guidance covers all phases of HBM from the design phase to the effective communication of results. By carefully defining MIR for all phases, researchers and health professionals can make their HBM studies and programs are robust, reproducible, and meaningful. Acceptance and implementation of MIR-HBM Guidelines in both the general population and occupational fields would improve the interpretability and regulatory utility of HBM data. While implementation challenges remain—such as varying local capacities, and ethical and legal differences at the national levels, this initiative represents an important step toward harmonizing HBM practice and supports an ongoing dialogue among policymakers, legal experts, and scientists to effectively address these challenges. Leveraging the data and insights from HBM, policymakers can develop more effective strategies to protect public health and ensure safer working environments.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) United States (USA) (US) Wadsworth Center United States (USA) (US) Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) / Folkehelseinstituttet Norway (NO) Yale University United States (USA) (US) Bundesamt für Gesundheit (BAG) Switzerland (CH) Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL) / Catholic University of Leuven Belgium (BE) Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) United States (USA) (US) Ministry of Environment / 환경부 Korea, Republic of (KR) Michigan State University United States (USA) (US) Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) / Τεχνολογικό Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου Cyprus (CY) Health Canada Canada (CA) UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) United Kingdom (GB) Staatsekretariat für Wirtschaft / Secrétariat d'État à l'économie / Segreteria di Stato dell'economia / State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) Switzerland (CH) Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad India (IN) Benaki Phytopathological Institute (BPI) / Μπενάκειο Φυτοπαθολογικό Ινστιτούτο Greece (GR) Ministry of Health Cyprus (CY) IOM Institute of Occupational Medicine United Kingdom (GB) Shell Netherlands (NL) Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Institute of Health Carlos III, ISCIII) Spain (ES) HSE Health and Safety Executive United Kingdom (GB) University of Lisbon / Universidade de Lisboa (ULisboa) Portugal (PT) Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS University) United States (USA) (US) Institut für Prävention und Arbeitsmedizin der Deutschen Gesetzlichen Unfallversicherung, Institut der Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA) Germany (DE) Johns Hopkins University (JHU) United States (USA) (US) Tulane University United States (USA) (US) Universidad de Granada Spain (ES) New University of Lisbon / Universidade Nova de Lisboa Portugal (PT) Columbia University United States (USA) (US) National Institute for Environmental Studies / 国立環境研究所 Japan (JP) Korea University / 고려대학교 Korea, Republic of (KR) The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) China (CN) University of Antwerp / Universiteit Antwerpen Belgium (BE) BASF SE Germany (DE) Hokkaido University (Hokudai) / 北海道大学 Japan (JP) Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) / Työterveyslaitos (TTL) Finland (FI) Ege University / Ege Üniversitesi Turkey (TR) Norwegian Institute for Air Research / Norsk institutt for luftforskning (NILU) Norway (NO) Nagoya City University / 名古屋市立大学 Japan (JP) Università degli studi di Milano Italy (IT) Radboud University Nijmegen Netherlands (NL) Université Moulay Ismail de Meknes Morocco (MA) Wageningen University & Research Netherlands (NL) Daegu Catholic University (DCU) Korea, Republic of (KR) University College Dublin (UCD) Ireland (IE) University of Maryland School of Pharmacy United States (USA) (US) GO FAIR Foundation Netherlands (NL) Flemish Institute for Technological Research / Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO) Belgium (BE) Université Sorbonne Paris Cité France (FR) Swedish Chemicals Agency / Kemikalieinspektionen (KEMI) Sweden (SE) National Health Research Institutes (NHRI) / 國家衛生研究院 Taiwan (TW) Universidade do Porto Portugal (PT) Nickel Institute (USA) United States (USA) (US) National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work / Istituto Nazionale per l'Assicurazione Contro gli Infortuni sul Lavoro (INAIL) Italy (IT) Lausanne University Hospital / Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois (CHUV) Switzerland (CH) University of Kentucky United States (USA) (US) Örebro University Sweden (SE)

How to cite

APA:

Zare Jeddi, M., Galea, K.S., Ashley-Martin, J., Nassif, J., Pollock, T., Poddalgoda, D.,... Hopf, N.B. (2025). Guidance on minimum information requirements (MIR) from designing to reporting human biomonitoring (HBM). Environment International, 202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2025.109601

MLA:

Zare Jeddi, Maryam, et al. "Guidance on minimum information requirements (MIR) from designing to reporting human biomonitoring (HBM)." Environment International 202 (2025).

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