Using evidence-based models of human behaviour to reduce endocrine-disrupting chemicals exposure: recommendations for strengthening interventions

List of Authors

  1. Lisa Selma Moussaoui ,  
  2. Ariane Baye
    ,  
  3. Annick Bogaerts ,  
  4. Alice Collinge
    ,  
  5. Roland Devlieger
    ,  
  6. Xavier Escoté
    ,  
  7. Carmen Freire
    ,  
  8. Barbara Kaiser
    ,  
  9. Dorota Komar ,  
  10. Maryse Ledent
    ,  
  11. Leonie Miserez ,  
  12. Noemi Boqué ,  
  13. HYPIEND Clinical Core Investigator Group
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Abstract

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) represent a threat for the ecosystem and human health. Exposure routes include modifiable exposures, such as choice of food or cosmetics but also daily habits such as airing the room. However, current attempts to reduce modifiable exposure often rely on knowledge provision and awareness-raising campaigns. This is the case even though human behaviour, decision making and habits change have been studied for a long time, and numerous psychological theories demonstrate that the transition from awareness of a health threat to actually change daily behaviour is not straightforward. This paper calls for interventions on EDCs exposure reduction to build on solid understanding of human behaviour and use of behaviour change techniques to achieve significant impact. We illustrate how this can be done by presenting the HYPIEND project, a multicomponent behavioural intervention designed to help pregnant women and prepubertal children (and their parents) to reduce their modifiable exposure to EDCs in these sensitive periods. HYPIEND relies on theoretical models such as the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) model, motivational interviewing techniques, and broader support through partners (for pregnant women) and the school environment (for children) through a school-wide project built on the School Wide Positive Behavioural Interventions Supports.

Corresponding author
Lisa Selma Moussaoui
0000-0003-0392-7402
Grant information

This work has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. [101137440] project name [HYPIEND], and from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).

The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Copyright
© 2026 Lisa Selma Moussaoui (Corresponding Author, Co-Author); Ariane Baye (Co-Author); Annick Bogaerts (Co-Author); Alice Collinge (Co-Author); Roland Devlieger (Co-Author); Xavier Escoté (Co-Author); Carmen Freire (Co-Author); Barbara Kaiser (Co-Author); Dorota Komar (Co-Author); Maryse Ledent (Co-Author); Leonie Miserez (Co-Author); Noemi Boqué (Co-Author); HYPIEND Clinical Core Investigator Group (Co-Author) Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

First version published
Latest version published
Revised

Amendment

The new version of the paper contains the following changes: 
-clarification of the manuscript main contribution by presenting more explicitly its aim (conceptual) and revision of the wording that wrongly implied demonstrated effectiveness of the project while it is a trial in progress 
-addition of theory of changes tables for each study (in appendix) 
-justification of the use of the HAPA framework and the BCT taxonomy 
-more explicit discussion of other types of actions (regulatory, industrial, policy level) and how behavioural approach are related 
-equity considerations are now mentioned (in terms of inequity in exposition to EDCs and socio-economic constraints to access alternatives) 
-mention of the list of EDCs that are included in the HYPIEND project 
-more precise description of the cited studies (sample size, characteristics of the participants, effect sizes) 
-geographical scope for the mention of EDCs in the environment extended beyond Europe 
-mention of the impossibility to test individual elements of the intervention as a limit, and reference to multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) as a possible solution for future studies 
-inclusion of breast milk and placenta as routes of exposure to EDCs  
-addition of two studies that were not cited in the earlier version of the paper 
-mention of the timeframe to develop habits 
-mention of the group size for the workshops in HYPIEND 
-more detailed explanation of the process of behaviour change in the school intervention 
-brief mention of EDC-related biological outcomes measures

Comments

Authors & roles

Lisa Selma Moussaoui

Research group in Health Psychology, University of Geneva Faculty of Psychology and Education, Geneva, Geneva, 1205, Switzerland

Roles
Corresponding Author, Co-Author, Conceptualization, Funding Acquisition, Visualization, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing
0000-0003-0392-7402

Ariane Baye

Research Unit of EQUALE, University of Liege, Liège, Walloon Region, 4000, Belgium

Roles
Co-Author, Conceptualization, Funding Acquisition, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing

Annick Bogaerts

REALIFE Research Group, Research Unit Woman and Child, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Flanders, 3000, Belgium

Roles
Co-Author, Funding Acquisition, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing
0000-0003-2718-4682

Alice Collinge

Research Unit of EQUALE, University of Liege, Liège, Walloon Region, 4000, Belgium

Roles
Co-Author, Conceptualization, Visualization, Writing – Review & Editing

Roland Devlieger

REALIFE Research Group, Research Unit Woman and Child, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Flanders, 3000, Belgium

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

Roles
Co-Author, Funding Acquisition, Writing – Original Draft Preparation

Xavier Escoté

Unitat de Nutrició i Salut, Technology Centre of Catalonia Eurecat, Barcelona, Catalonia, 43204, Spain

Nutrition and Metabolic Health Research Group. Institute of Health Pere Virgili (IISPV). Center of Environmental, Food and Toxicological Technology – TecnATox, Rovira i Virgili University Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Reus, Catalonia, Spain

Biomedical Research Network Center of the Pathophysiology of Obesity and Nutrition, Madrid, Community of Madrid, Spain

Roles
Co-Author, Funding Acquisition, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing

Carmen Freire

Department of Legal Medicine, Toxicology and Physical Anthropology, University of Granada, Granada, Andalusia, 18016, Spain

Instituto de Investigacion Biosanitaria de Granada, Granada, Andalusia, 18012, Spain

CIBER de epidemiología y Salud Pública, Madrid, Spain

Roles
Co-Author, Conceptualization, Funding Acquisition, Writing – Review & Editing

Barbara Kaiser

Research group in Health Psychology, University of Geneva Faculty of Psychology and Education, Geneva, Geneva, 1205, Switzerland

Roles
Co-Author, Conceptualization, Writing – Review & Editing

Dorota Komar

Centre for Omic Sciences (COS), Joint Unit Universitat Rovira I Virgili-EURECAT, Unique Scientific and Technical Infrastructures (ICTS), Technology Centre of Catalonia Eurecat, Barcelona, Catalonia, 43204, Spain

Roles
Co-Author, Funding Acquisition, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing
0000-0003-3447-1532

Maryse Ledent

Risk and health impact assessment, SCIENSANO, Brussels, 1050, Belgium

Roles
Co-Author, Conceptualization, Funding Acquisition, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing

Leonie Miserez

REALIFE Research Group, Research Unit Woman and Child, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Flanders, 3000, Belgium

Roles
Co-Author, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing
0009-0002-4579-5276

Noemi Boqué

Unitat de Nutrició i Salut, Technology Centre of Catalonia Eurecat, Barcelona, Catalonia, 43204, Spain

Roles
Co-Author, Conceptualization, Funding Acquisition, Supervision, Writing – Review & Editing
0000-0001-7173-5512

HYPIEND Clinical Core Investigator Group

Roles
Co-Author

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