Chemical pollutants in the body - insufficient data situation
Chemical pollutants can enter the human body and affect health. Data on the type, quantity and health effects of such pollutants are scarcely available in Switzerland. The feasibility of a national study was investigated in a pilot study.
The planned health study would collect health data and biological samples at regular intervals from around 100,000 people selected to be representative of Switzerland in terms of region, gender and age. This would provide comparative values, for example on chemical exposure or general health, and basic data for health research. These data could be used to verify whether public health measures are effective and meet the goals of the Federal Council's Health 2030 strategy, according to the Federal Office of Public Health.
Results for mercury, arsenic and cadmium
In a pilot study, more than 780 adults were surveyed about their health between 2018 and 2021. They underwent a baseline examination and provided biological samples. The pilot study was conducted in the cantons of Bern and Vaud together with regional research institutes and showed that a large-scale study would be feasible, according to the FOPH.
According to the information, the analysis results for mercury, arsenic and cadmium in the blood show that the exposure of the Swiss population in the pilot cantons is in the same order of magnitude as in the neighboring countries Italy and Germany. The detailed results of the pilot study are currently being evaluated and will subsequently be published, according to the FOPH.
National study planned
The Federal Council has instructed the FOPH to examine a national study based on the experience of the pilot study. For the final decision, the organization and financing would have to be clarified in more detail. Possible organizational models will be examined in detail over the next two years in collaboration with the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation, the Swiss National Science Foundation, and other partners within and outside the federal government. (pd BAG)
