Developing Analytical Capabilities for Human Biomonitoring in Israel: current issues and future plans

Luda Groisman, National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel (luda.groisman@phlta.health.gov.il)
Yamit Naor, National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry Of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel
Sonya Shuster, National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry Of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel
Elena Rabinovich, National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry Of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel
Elza Nelkenbaum, National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry Of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel
Efrat Rorman, National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry Of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel

    There is an increasing appreciation in Israel for the role of Human Biomonitoring (HBM) as an approach to evaluate population exposure to environmental pollutants. The Ministry of Health (MOH) and other researchers have used HBM for population research, risk assessment and policy making. However, HBM analytical capabilities were not available in Israel .

A National Human Biomonitoring (HBM) Laboratory was established at the end of 2017 within the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) of The Health Ministry, supported by the Environment and Health Fund.

So far 4 analytical methods were developed and implemented to measure the following toxic pollutants in urine:

1. 
   Cotinine - to ascertain passive exposure to tobacco smoking;


2. 
    6 common metabolites of organophosphate pesticides;


3. 
   Chlorpyrifos-specific metabolite;


4. 
   Metals.

The analytical procedures were adopted from scientific publications of established HBM Laboratories with appropriate modifications needed for our analytical instrumentations (GC-MS/MS, HR-QTOF, ICP/MS). All methods were validated, working range, limit of quantification, accuracy , precision were determined followed by successful participation in international proficiency test G-EQUAS (including all methods and biomarkers). Routine measurements were performed in accordance with QA/QC scheme recommended by HBM4EU.

In addition, about 700 urine samples were tested at NPHL as part of different HBM projects, initiating new HBM scientific collaborations.

In 2020 two new methods will be developed:  measurement of perithroide pesticides metabolites in urine and metals in whole blood. As HBM is a dynamic field influenced by many global and local issues, an in-depth review of our data, scientific literature and expert consultation would guide the relevant compounds and protocols that will be further developed.