FLEHS-IV
Flemish Environment and Health Study, cycle 4 | TeenagersFLEHS IV is the fourth cycle of the Flemish Environment and Health Study conducted in Flanders
with sampling between September 2017 and June 2018. The objective of FLEHS IV was to
investigate the relation between environmental pollution and human health by measuring exposure
and effect biomarkers and specific health outcomes in teenagers. The specific aims were to i) establish
reference values and time trends of internal exposure to toxic chemicals and for comparison to
international studies and health-based guidance values, ii) investigate associations of biomarkers and
health outcomes with residential surroundings, iii) investigate whether eco-behavior is associated with
exposure and health, iv) identify and characterize exposure to emerging chemicals. Participants of
FLEHS IV were recruited via schools. A stratified clustered multi-stage sampling strategy was applied
to enroll equal numbers of participants across both sexes and to represent all educational levels and
Flemish provinces, proportionally to the general Flemish population. The following exclusion criteria
were applied: data of more than one questionnaire missing, blood and urine sample missing, being
held back in school for more than one year and attending a boarding school. A participation rate of 34%
was achieved. As an incentive participants received feedback on their personal results and 20 euro. The
study recruited a total of 428 teenagers between 14-15 years of age. For FLEHS IV a subset of 300
individuals was included in the HBM4EU aligned studies sample. Metadata information of the study
can be found in IPCHEM.
- Type
- Cohort study
- Design
- Cross-sectional
- Participants
- 428
- Duration
- 2016 until 2020