For the first time in France, biological concentrations of environmental pollutants have been measured across a representative sample of the population. The exposure of the French population to various environmental pollutants has been estimated by measuring 42 biomarkers of exposure. These correspond to chemical contaminants of food and the environment and were selected according to their relevance in terms of public health: 11 metals, 6 PCBs and three chemical families of pesticides (organochlorine, organophosphorus and pyrethroid compounds). These chemicals or their metabolites have been measured in samples of blood, urine and hair collected from a sample of the population in the French National Nutrition and Health Survey (ENNS Étude nationale nutrition santé). The results indicate that the French population has exposure levels to heavy metals and organochlorine pesticides that are, overall, low and consistent with levels observed in other countries. For polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other pesticides (para-dichlorobenzene and pyrethroids) the levels recorded in France are notably higher than those observed in the United States and in Germany. However, for PCBs, levels exceed health thresholds in only a small proportion of the population. French specificities regarding food and the use of products need further clarification. (R.A.)
Auteur : Frery N, Saoudi A, Garnier R, Zeghnoun A, Falq G, Guldner L
Année de publication
: 2010
Pages : 12 p.
