A pilot project for a national health study with Human Biomonitoring (HBM) is being conducted under the name "Swiss Health Study - Pilot Phase". The first results regarding feasibility and HBM analytics were published in German and French in summer 2023 (see below).
The Federal Council report published in May 2017 means that a pilot phase can now be launched. The main objectives of this preparatory phase are to test the feasibility of a national project, to validate the necessary procedures and infrastructures, and to evaluate the willingness of volunteers to participate.
The pilot phase is carried out by the FOPH in collaboration with the Swiss Biobanking Platform (SBP), the University Institute of General Medicine and Public Health (Unisanté) and the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM) in Bern, with the participation of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (SwissTPH) in Basel. Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) contributed to the study by analysing the samples for glyphosate and per- and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds (PFAS). The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) finances the analysis of heavy metals.
During the operational phase, over 780 adults were interviewed about their health between 2018 and 2021. They underwent a baseline examination and provided biological samples. The pilot study was conducted in the cantons of Bern and Vaud together with the regional research institutes mentioned above and showed that a large-scale study would be feasible. The analytical results from the HBM in the pilot phase are summarized in a report (see below).