FLemish Environment and Health Study (FLEHS)
The FLEHS was launched in 2002 and represents a human biomonitoring network as part of a program on environmental health surveillance. Four FLEHS studies have been implemented: FLEHS I (2002-2006), FLEHS II (2007-2011), FLEHS III (2012-2015) and FLEHS IV (2016-2020), and a fifth cycle is ongoing (2022-2027). The first FLEHS study (2002-2006) included more than 4,400 participants recruited from 8 regions in Flanders, Belgium with different environmental characteristics. The participants were recruited by a stratified clustered multi-stage design and belonged to 3 different age groups (newborns and their mothers, adolescents, and older adults).
Study design
Cohort
Number of participants at first data collection
1,186 (mothers)
1,196 (babies)
1,679 (adolescents)
1,583 (older adults)
Age at first data collection
14 - 15 years (adolescents)
Birth (babies)
50 - 65 years (older adults)
18 - 44 years (mothers)
Participant year of birth
Varied (mothers)
Varied (babies)
Varied (older adults)
1988 - 1989 (adolescents)
Participant sex
All
Representative sample at baseline?
The eight Flemish regions included in the study.
Sample features
Country
Year of first data collection
2002
Primary Institutions
Flemish Institute for Technological Research (Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek, VITO)
Ghent University (Universiteit Gent, UGent)
Hasselt University (Universiteit Hasselt, UHasselt)
KU Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)
Province of Antwerp (Provincie Antwerpen)
Profile paper DOI
Funders
Flemish Government (Vlaamse regering)
Ongoing?
Yes
Data types collected
- Physical or biological assessment (e.g. blood, saliva, gait, grip strength, anthropometry)
- Secondary data
- Self-report questionnaire – paper or computer assisted
- Interviews or focus groups
- None
- Geographic, spatial & environmental data
Engagement
Keywords
