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Tomas Syrovatka Hilde Balling

Denmark

updated Nov 10, 2010 by Hilde Balling

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Hilde Balling






Toxicology in Denmark

ViewDenmarkin a larger mapLegend:= Government Agency,= NGO,= University,= Professional Society,= Poison Control Center,= Toxic Site.

History

In Denmark the history of toxicology is closely linked to pharmacology and forensic medicine. Pharmacology has been taught at the University of Copenhagen (founded in 1479) since 1660 focusing on pharmacotherapy during the first couple of hundred years. Experimental research in pharmacology was initiated by Professor Hans Chr. Gram (1891-1900) and in 1898 the first Danish institute of pharmacology was established.

The Royal Danish School of Pharmacy, now Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, was founded in 1892. Until then one had to practice at a pharmacy, follow lectures at the University of Copenhagen and at the College of Advanced Technology (founded in 1829), and finally pass an examination before a commission consisting of five professors and a pharmacist.

Lectures in forensic medicine were given as early as 1740.  In 1819 forensic medicine was accepted as a specific discipline under the professorship in pharmacology, and in 1905 a professorship in forensic medicine (Knud Pontoppidan) was established at the University of Copenhagen. Forensic toxicology was a part of forensic medicine until a separate department under the Institute of Forensic Medicine was established in the 1960s.

According to Act of 30 April 1909 the Institute of Pharmacology or other laboratories were obligated to perform forensic toxicology investigations upon request from the Medico Legal Council. In 1943 Department of Forensic Toxicology was established at the Institute of Pharmacology. Thirty years later (1973) the department was transferred to the Institute of Forensic Medicine and a smaller unit of toxicology was established at the Institute of Pharmacology under the leadership of Professor Jens S. Schou.

At the University of Aarhus (founded in 1928) the Institute of Forensic Medicine was established in 1959. The first toxicological investigations were performed in the early 1960s and in 1968 the Department of Forensic Toxicology was established.

At the University of Odense (founded 1966, now University of Southern Denmark), the Institute of Forensic Medicine was established in 1971. A unit of forensic toxicology was established in 1980 and became the Department of Toxicology in 2004.

A veterinary school was founded in Copenhagen in 1773 by the first Danish veterinary Peter Abildgaard. The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, now Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, was founded in 1958.

In 1901 a professorship in pharmacology (Carl H. Hansen) was established and toxicology as a discipline was included in 1950 when the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology and a professorship in pharmacology and toxicology (Svend Dalgaard-Mikkelsen) were established. In 1994 a professorship in toxicology was established (Christian Friis).

From hygiene to environmental medicine

Hygiene as an independent science was established at the University of Copenhagen as early as 1840, but it was not until 1913 that a professorship was established. Investigations in relation to nutritional and occupational hygiene were carried out at the Institute of Hygiene (later the Institute of Hygiene and Social Medicine), which was established in 1931. As the analyses became more extensive the laboratories were transferred to the new National Food Institute and the new Institute of Occupational Health (see below). In 1969 an independent Institute of Social Medicine was established at the University of Copenhagen and in 1990 the Institute of Hygiene was abolished. The toxicological resources were transferred to the Institute of Pharmacology (later Department of Pharmacology).

From the start in 1840 and up to the middle of the twentieth century hygiene focused on sanitary conditions and acute and chronic infections, but then the picture changed, now with a focus on the broad spectrum of environmental factors that humans can be exposed to. As in other countries, the expression "environmental medicine" was chosen to characterize the tasks. The word "hygiene", on the other hand, in everyday language had come to mean personal hygiene and cleaning

In the early 1990s a research programme in toxicology/environmental medicine was initiated at the Department of Pharmacology and a professorship in medical toxicology was filled from 1993 to 1996 (Henrik E. Poulsen). A professorship in environmental medicine was established in 1998 (Steffen Loft) and transferred to the Institute of Public Health, which had been established in 1997, including the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health. Up until the present, research and teaching in toxicology have been integral parts of the Department of Pharmacology (now Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology) and the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, but recently a professorship in toxicology of 5 years duration (Elisabeth E. Knudsen) was established at the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health.

At the University of Aarhus a professorship in hygiene was established in 1938, and the Institute of Hygiene, including the science of toxicology, was established in 1943. In 1987 the name of the institute was changed to the Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine with Herman Autrup as professor in environmental medicine. In 2005 the Institute, now the Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, became a part of the new School of Public Health.

At the University of Odense a professorship in hygiene was established in 1972 at the Institute of Hygiene, later the Institute of Public Health, Department of Hygiene.  In 1982 the name was changed to the Institute of Public Health, Department of Environmental Medicine, with Philippe Grandjean as professor in environmental medicine.

Poison treatment

The Poison Treatment Centre at Bispebjerg Hospital in Copenhagen opened in 1949 and gained international respect for improvements in the treatment of poisoned patients, especially barbiturate poisonings, during the 1950s and 1960s. Along with providing actual treatment, the Centre advised physicians on treatment of drug poisonings.

The Danish Poison Information Centre started advisory activities on poisoning with chemical products and other non-drug substances in 1972 at the Clinic of Occupational Medicine, Rigshospitalet, later Bispebjerg Hospital.

In 2002 the information activities in the two centres were joined in a collaboration between three departments at Bispebjerg Hospital, the Danish Poison Control Centre, and in 2006 this centre was opened for inquiries from the public (Poison Control Hotline).                

Working environment

Denmark has had worker protection regulations since 1873 when the Danish Working Environment Authority (WEA) was set up to supervise compliance with the Act. From the start chemists were employed, and in 1978, occupational physicians and occupational toxicologists as well.

A working environment laboratory was established in 1946. In 1955 this laboratory became the Institute of Occupational Hygiene (later National Institute of Occupational Health), the tasks of which from 1977 included research and education. 

Medical students have been taught occupational medicine since 1958 and in 1995 the first Danish professorship (Finn Gyntelberg) was established at the University of Copenhagen. Two more professorships were established at the University of Aarhus in 2002 (Jens Peter Bonde) and in 2004 (Torben Sigsgaard).

The Institute of Toxicology

In 1968 The National Food Institute (later the National Food Agency) was established  including the Institute of Toxicology (Head Emil Poulsen), the main activities of which were toxicological investigations and risk assessments of food additives, pesticide residues, and contaminants of foods. In 1978 the activities included pesticides, household chemicals, and cosmetics, and in 1986 also human safety aspects of genetically engineered plants, animals, and micro-organisms and their products. Risk assessments of food borne micro-organisms and micro-organisms used in the production of foods were included in 1994.

In 1997 the National Food Agency and the Veterinary Directorate merged and became the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and in 2004 the institutes in the former National Food Agency became a part of the Danish Institute for Food and Veterinary Research, which later (January 2007) merged with the Technical University of Denmark and was divided into two institutes: the National Food Institute and the National Veterinary Institute. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, now under the Ministry of Food, Agriculture & Fisheries, by contract is secured toxicological assistance provided by the Department of Toxicology and Risk Assessment at the National Food Institute.

Ecotoxicology

Scientific and experimental ecotoxicology was initiated in the late 1970s at the independent, international consulting and research organization the Water Quality Institute (later DHI Water Environment Health). In 1977 a new Laboratory for Environmental Sciences and Ecology was established at the Technical University of Denmark (founded in 1829) under the leadership of Professor Finn Bro Rasmussen. In 1991 the Institute merged with the Institute of Environment & Resources at the Technical University of Denmark (now Department of Environmental Engineering).

A professorship in environmental toxicology was established in 1977 at the Department of Biology at the University of Odense (Professor Ole Karlog (1977-1985)). Aquatic ecotoxicology was established with the employment of Professor Michael H. Depledge (1987 - 1994), and later research on endocrine disruption was developed (Professor Poul Bjerregaard).

The Danish National Environmental Research Institute (a part of the Ministry of the Environment until January 2007 when it merged with the University of Aarhus) established Department of Terrestrial Ecology (Head Hans Løkke) in 1990. A professorship of 5 years duration in terrestrial ecology/ecotoxicology (Martin Holmstrup) was established in 2004 in collaboration with Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Aarhus.

The Danish Environmental Research Programme 1992-2004 has had a great impact on the development of Danish ecotoxicology. The research carried out in Danish Centre for Ecotoxicological Research resulted in a range of new tools that increased understanding of and enabled assessment of the risks posed by environmentally hazardous substances. New tools were developed, particularly in connection with the aquatic environment and for cleaning up contaminated soil. In Danish Centre for Environmental Oestrogen Research methods of testing that can reveal oestrogen-like effects of chemicals were developed and effects of selected chemicals were studied on levels of biological organization ranging from the molecular level through cellular and organ level to studies of individuals and populations.

For descriptions of the subprogrammes, see the websites:

Regulatory toxicology

As far back as in 1701, a Danish decree directed the police director not to allow the selling of tainted or unhealthy foods and drinks. In 1818, a regulation instructed medical officers to observe especially the putrefaction of corn and unhealthy drinking water and in 1829 medical practitioners were ordered to report diseases, the symptoms of which indicated food poisoning, and further provide material for chemical analyses by the health police. In 1836 the police director in Copenhagen published a list made by the medical officer indicating the colourings which could be used by producers of confectionery and toys and in 1843 the list, consisting of 39 compounds, applied to all of Denmark.

The first real Food Act was passed in 1903 and supplemented by statutory orders on analyses of foods (1911), on addition of colourings and preservatives (1913), and on investigations of materials coming into contact with foods (1913).

Until 1945 the Danish legislation on food primarily focused on the bacteriological control of foods and to a much lesser degree on food additives. After World War II a new Act taking into account new aspects and thoughts was prepared.The Food Act of 1950 authorized the authorities to issue orders regulating food additives which were increasingly used in the food industry.

In 1968 the National Food Institute, including the Institute of Toxicology, was established under the Ministry of the Interior. From the start, the Institute of Toxicology provided toxicological assistance to the Ministry of the Interior and also advised the National Board on Health on toxicological matters.

The Ministry of the Environment was founded in 1971. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency was established in 1972 and in 1973 the National Food Institute was transferred to the Ministry of the Environment.  In 1987, when the National Food Institute was transferred to the new Ministry of Health, the Ministry of the Environment by contract was secured continued direct toxicological assistance provided by the Institute of Toxicology.

National Institute of Occupational Health (now National Research Centre for the Working Environment) was separated from the Danish Working Environment Authority in 1997 but stayed as a part of the Ministry of Employment and continued to provide toxicological assistance to the Danish Working Environment Authority.

Legislation and regulation in the chemicals area today

The area of chemicals is regulated by four authorities in Denmark - the Ministry of the Environment; the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries; the Ministry of Employment and the Ministry of Health and Prevention, and their agencies the Danish Environmental Protection Agency and Agency for Spatial and Environmental Planning; the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration; the Danish Working Environment Authority, and the Danish Medicines Agency.

The activities in the Danish Environmental Protection Agency concentrate on preventing and combating air, water and soil pollution. Furthermore, the overall responsibility for the regulation of chemical substances and products lies within the Agency.  The Agency for Spatial and Environmental Planning is responsible for the public management of water resources and the marine environment.

The Air Pollution Monitoring Programme consists of two nation-wide networks of air pollution monitoring stations: The urban network and the background network. See the website of National Environmental Research Institute.

The National Monitoring Programme for the Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments (NOVANA) integrates systematic monitoring of the aquatic and terrestrial nature and environment.
See an English summary of the report "Aquatic and Terestrial Environment 2006" on the website of Agency for Spatial and Environmental Planning

The activities in the Danish Working Environment Authority concentrate on health and safety in the working environment, including substances and materials. The Product Register was established at the Danish Working Environment Authority in 1979 as a joint register for the Working Environment Authority and the Danish Environmental Protection Agency. The register holds information on approximately 38,000 notified products and provides a useful means of obtaining an overall picture of the distribution of chemical products. All of the information is stored in a database and is used to assess the risks presented to the environment and to the working environment by chemical substances and products.

The activities in the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration concentrate on securing "safety, health and quality in foods from farm to table". The Agency is responsible for the regulation of chemical contaminants in foods and for the regulation of food additives and materials and objects coming into contact with foods.

The monitoring programme for foods was established in 1983 and results have been reported for periods of five or six years.
See the fourth period report 1998-2003 on the website of National Food Institute.

The Danish Medicines Agency concentrates on securing that medicinal products are of satisfactory quality, are safe to use, and have the desired effect.
 
Most of the Danish legislation concerning chemicals is based on regulation set by the European Union and then adopted in the Danish legislation. For some areas the Danish legislation is more extensive than the regulation in the European Union prescribes. Furthermore, Danish legislation also exists for areas not covered by the regulation in the European Union.

The Environmental Protection Act covers releases into the air, water, soil, and subsoil of chemical substances that can be dangerous to the health or to the environment. The Act is based on two main principles: polluting chemicals should not be released in the landscape and "the polluter pays the bill".

The Chemical Substances and Products Act regulates all chemical substances and products manufactured, imported or sold in Denmark, including regulations on the distribution, consumption, and disposal of chemical substances. The purpose of the Act is to prevent damage to the health and to the environment and to promote the use of cleaner technologies. 

There are around 100,000 chemical substances on the EU market and an estimated 20,000 on the Danish market. The Danish EPA continually assesses the risk associated with a number of substances whose effects we are not yet familiar with. This work is carried out in collaboration with other EU Member States.

REACH  - the new European Union chemicals regulation came into force on June 1st 2007 and is to be implemented stepwise over 15 years. This Regulation is based on the principle that industry should "manufacture, import or use substances or place them on the market with such responsibility and care as may be required to ensure that, under reasonably foreseeable conditions, human health and the environment are not adversely affected". The more detailed requirements depend on the quantities in which the products are manufactured. Manufacturers will be responsible for providing information about the product, and particularly problematic substances must be approved by the authorities. An important objective is "to encourage and in certain cases to ensure that substances of high concern are eventually replaced by less dangerous substances or technologies where suitable economically and technically viable alternatives are available".

European Chemicals Agency, located in Helsinki, Finland, manages the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction processes for chemicals in order to ensure consistency across the European Union. National REACH helpdesk is a service established in every Member State providing advice to companies and other stakeholders on the obligations they may have under REACH.

The Danish Working Environment Act lays down the general objectives and requirements in relation to the working environment, including substances and materials. WEA Guidelines are based on acts and executive orders and explain how these are to be interpreted.

The Food Act lays down the general objectives and requirements in relation to foods, including regulation of food additives and of chemical contaminants in foods. Positivlisten (the Positive List) describes the additives which are accepted for use in different foods and in which amounts they can be used.

The Danish Medicines Act lays down general objectives and requirements in relation to medicinal products, including authorization and control of medicinal products, reporting of adverse drug reactions, and medicinal product trials on humans. The Danish Medicines Agency publishes guidelines as well, e.g. on authorization of medicinal products.
 

Government Agencies


Non-Government Organizations


Universities


Professional Societies


Poison Control Centers


Miscellaneous Resources


Legal Links


About Denmark


Multilateral Organization Contacts


Literature References from TOXLINE (Denmark)

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