Registration is open for the 5th EXIMIOUS Symposium

Mapping Exposure-Induced Immune Effects: Connecting the Exposome and the Immunome

Registration is open for the 5th EXIMIOUS Symposium

24 May 2023

The fifth EXIMIOUS Symposium, titled “Risk assessment of mixed exposures: particles, carcinogens, and EU policies”, will take place on 28 September 2023. Register now and join us online at 16:00 – 18:00 (CEST) to learn more about combined exposures.

People are often exposed to multiple substances from different sources at the same time. What kind of “cocktail effects” arise when several chemicals mix? And how can we accurately and efficiently assess the health risks caused by such mixed exposures?

Our three invited experts will present their latest research on the topic, each highlighting a different aspect. Prof. Ulla Vogel‘s research suggests that inhaling particles causes an immune defence reaction in the lung and liver which is linked to cardiovascular disease. This finding may be helpful for the risk assessment of combined exposure to particles. After this, prof. Tiina Santonen will share her insights on risk assessment of mixed exposure to various carcinogens at the workplace. Focusing on the bigger policy picture, Dr. Violaine Verougstraete will lead us through the EU’s current regulatory landscape for chemicals (REACH) and explain how challenges linked to the issue of combined exposure are being addressed.

A dedicated time for Q&A will follow each of the presentations. Like our previous symposia, this fifth EXIMIOUS Symposium is open to all audiences.

Programme EXIMIOUS Symposium
Risk assessment of mixed exposures: particles, carcinogens, and EU policies

Time Title Speaker

16:00 - 16:15

Welcome and introduction from the EXIMIOUS coordinator

Prof. Peter Hoet
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

16:15 - 16:50

Particle-induced acute phase response: a causal link between inhalation of particles and cardiovascular disease

Prof. Ulla Vogel
National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Denmark

16:50 - 17:25

Risk assessment of combined occupational exposure to carcinogens: example of hexavalent chromium, nickel and PAHs

Prof. Tiina Santonen
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Finland

17:25 - 18:00

Can REACH 2.0 tackle the toxicological challenge of combined exposure with a MAF in 2025?

Dr. Violaine Verougstraete
Eurometaux, Belgium

Speakers

Prof. Ulla Vogel is a professor in chemical toxicology in the working environment at the National Research Centre for the Working Environment. She is also an adjunct professor at DTU Food (Technical University of Denmark) and  Honorary Doctor at Lund University. Ulla Vogel is trained as a biochemist with a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Copenhagen. She studied the health effects of inhaled particles for more than 20 years. One of her main research topics is adverse health effects of inhaled particles in relation to cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Prof. Tiina Santonen (MD, PhD, MSc in Applied Toxicology) is a research professor at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. She specialises in occupational toxicology, biomonitoring, and chemical risk assessment and has several publications in these fields. She is also heavily involved in regulatory chemical risk assessment and management activities in Finland and the EU. She is a former member of the EU Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL) and a current member of ECHA’s Risk Assessment Committee (RAC). Within the recent large EU biomonitoring initiative, HBM4EU, she has led occupational biomonitoring surveys and risk assessment activities.

Dr. Violaine Verougstraete studied medicine and industrial toxicology at UCLouvain in Belgium and obtained her PhD in Public Health. As the Chemicals Management Director, Violaine coordinates Eurometaux‘s Chemicals Management activities and leads scientific activities and projects for developing better tools in EU environmental regulations (emission-, substances/mixtures and product-related legislations) for sustainable risk management of metals.