Sciensano is conducting a study on the possible health effects of (nano)particles in face masks. The first results of the TiO2Mask project show the presence of varying amounts of titanium dioxide particles in face masks. We still need to investigate whether and to what extent these particles can actually be released, but the quantities found do not rule out a possible health risk.
Are you a professional from the healthcare or social services sectors? Participate in the fourth “POWER TO CARE” survey. This survey examines your well-being and your need for support. We ask about stress-related symptoms (worrying, sleeping problems …) and about social support.
Healthcare providers and caregivers still experience symptoms of chronic stress to a large to very large extend after 16 months of the corona crisis. This persistent stress has a negative impact on their well-being. 22% of the participants are considering quitting their profession. The need for support remains high. These are the results of the third national ‘POWER TO CARE’ survey by Sciensano and KU Leuven, in which 951 healthcare professionals participated.
Sciensano organises together with the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC), ARSIA and DGZ, the 6th symposium on animal health. Sciensano’s scientists and external spreakers give presentations about food safety and zoonotic diseases.
Spoken language is Dutch or French. Hence, more information about this course can be found on the Dutch or French version of this webpage.
The Belgian authorities have decided that, due to the decreasing pressure of the pandemic, the frequency of reporting can be adjusted. As from Saturday 26 June 2021, hospitals will be allowed to postpone the registration of hospital figures during the weekend to Monday. As a result, the COVID-19 figures will no longer be updated on Sundays and Mondays.
Since the start of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, Sciensano has been closely monitoring the occurrence of infections in fully immunized individuals, also called “breakthrough infections”. On a total of 1.421.067 fully immunized individuals, only 0,32% (4.526) got infected. Moreover, more than two thirds of these breakthrough infections did not cause any COVID-19 compatible symptoms. These results are an important indication of the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines in Belgium.
Are you a professional from the healthcare or social services sectors? Participate in the third “POWER TO CARE” survey. This survey examines your well-being and your need for support. We ask about stress-related symptoms (worrying, sleeping problems, …), about social support and we would like to hear your opinion about the easing of restrictions.
In a new scientific opinion, the European Food Safety Authority states that it can no longer consider titanium dioxide as a safe additive.
Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are everywhere in the environment and are part of our daily lives. They are in the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe, yet we do not know how dangerous they are to human health. This is investigated in the Horizon 2020 European project Imptox, launched on 1 April 2021: An innovative analytical platform to investigate the effect and toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) combined with environmental contaminants on the risk of allergic diseases in preclinical and clinical studies. Sciensano and 11 other partners from 8 different European countries are working together to investigate the complex role of micro- and nanoplastics in combination with environmental contaminants on food safety and human health, focusing on allergy and asthma.
Three major network interruptions are planned in the coming weeks due to maintenance of our internet connection. Our websites and our mailboxes will not be accessible during these moments.
