The expertise needed for exposure research is divided amongst several research institutes in the Netherlands. This is why RIVM Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu) has formed a research consortium in which organizations with the required expertise are represented. The consortium carries out the exposure study.

 The following organizations are members of the consortium:

Partner

Contribution to the exposure study

Alterra, Wageningen UR 

Alterra is involved in the selection of substances and appropriate measuring locations, and in measuring and modelling external human exposure.

Applied Plant Research (PPO) – Flower bulbs, Tree nursery & Fruit crops, Wageningen University & Research 

PPO has a broad knowledge of current practices in agriculture and crop protection. This expertise is used for selecting plant protection products and locations for the field trials. 

CLM Centre for Agricultural and Environment 

CLM is an independent consultancy that contributes to sustainable food & farming and attractive countrysides. Crop protection is one of their focus areas. In this project CLM recruits and supports the farmers and collects pesticide application data.

Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University 

The Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS) is an interfaculty research institute at Utrecht University. IRAS performs research on the human health risks of exposure to potentially harmful agents in the environment, at the workplace and through the food chain. IRAS coordinates the consortium and is responsible for the overall design of the study, management of samples and data, recruitment of participants, conduct of the fieldwork, data analyses and development of predictive exposure models.

Plant Research International (PRI), Wageningen University and Research 

PRI has a broad knowledge in application technology of pesticides and spray drift during its application. PRI is involved in the selection of measuring locations, and in measuring and modelling spray drift during application as a route for human exposure near treated fields. 

Radboud Universitair Medisch Centrum Nijmegen (Radboudumc) 

The Radboudumc coordinates personalized measurements such as questionnaires, diaries, urine biomonitoring and determination of skin contamination. The Research Lab Molecular Epidemiology will take part in the chemical analysis.

RIKILT, Wageningen University & Research 

RIKILT is work package leader 'Chemical Analysis' and responsible for the overall quality of the chemical analyses. RIKILT will test a large number of urine and environmental samples for the presence of pesticides and metabolites.

Schuttelaar & Partners 

Schuttelaar & Partners is the communication consultancy for a healthy and sustainable world. S&P is responsible for the work package 'Communication'. She contributes to effective communication with participants and good coordination between the parties.

TNO 

TNO is the largest Dutch independent research institute. In this project TNO will carry out the measurements outside and inside dwellings in the vicinity of pesticide applications and contributes to the interpretation and generalization of the results.

University Medical Center Groningen

The research conducted at the UMCG Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen (Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen) is focused on Healthy Ageing, with special attention for food and environmental factors such as pollutants. Within the exposure research, UMCG is involved in the design and execution of the study with adults and specifically with children.

Terms, conditions and declaration of interest

The work which RIVM will commission to the consortium partners, is under the conditions of the 'General government terms and conditions for awarding contracts for the provision of services (ARVODI-2014)'. RIVM has a contract with all partners.

In order to become a member of the consortium, the participating researchers have signed a declaration of interest. Requirements for membership in the consortium were set in advance. The consortium members each have relevant and demonstrable expertise, and will work together to complete the research. Careful and adequate communication with stakeholders, particularly with residents and growers, is important for this research. A major criterion for membership is thus familiarity with the Dutch situation and ease of communication with stakeholders.