The knowledge lab was chaired by Kateřina Šebková from the Stockholm Convention Regional Centre hosted by the RECETOX, with presentations by Jana Klanova from Masaryk University (CZ) introducing the EIRENE infrastructures and IHEN network, Pascal Sanders from ANSES (FR) presenting the PARC partnership, and Nicola Pirrone from CNR (IT) showcasing a tool prepared for the Minamata Convention in the EIRENE network.
Pascal Sanders showed novel risk assessment tools and methodologies developed within the EU PARC project, highlighting how these tools can assist regulators in making right and timely decisions to reduce mercury human exposure and environmental contamination across Europe and showcased examples of alighned population studies in Europe.
Jana Klánová underscored the importance of synergizing existing data colection methodologies and metadata standards from across the world. Presenting examples from the EIRENE project, she described efforts to build new capacities for human exposome research and environmental health risk assessment through a network of harmonized laboratories, population cohorts, and databases. She stressed the fact that success does not necessarily depend on creating new research infrastructures, but on effectively utilizing existing ones. She introduced global human exposome efforts, i.e. IHEN, NEXUS and newly also the Global Exposome Forum.
Nicola Pirrone concluded the session by presenting the services of EIRENE research infrastructure and illustrating how CNR and models can support the Convention’s effective implementation by visualizing future mercury emission scenarios depending on policy decision. The model is also using data from GMOS network monitoring providing harmonized global and regional mercury monitoring data, act as a knowledge hub for co-designing socioeconomic policies, and contribute to assessing the effectiveness of measures adopted under the Minamata Convention.
All speakers emphasized the importance of strong links between scientific research and policymaking, highlighting the need for cohesive data frameworks to support effective monitoring and implementation. The event was attended by the representatives of WHO, UNEP and the COP participants from all UN regions.
