Santé publique France measures population exposure to endocrine disruptors.

At the national level

Exposure levels vary among the population depending on the endocrine disruptor

Exposure of the French population to various environmental pollutants was estimated in the environmental component of the National Nutrition and Health Survey (ENNS) by measuring 42 exposure biomarkers. These correspond to chemical contaminants in food and the environment selected based on their public health significance: 11 metals, 6 PCBs, and three families of pesticides (organochlorines, organophosphates, and pyrethroids). These chemicals or their metabolites were measured in blood, urine, or hair samples.
The results of this study indicate that, for the years 2006–2007, the French population:

• Has overall low levels of exposure to heavy metals and organochlorine pesticides, consistent with levels observed abroad, except for mercury

• Has higher levels of exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other pesticides (paradichlorobenzene and pyrethroids) than those observed in the United States and Germany

• For PCBs, a small proportion of the population exceeds health thresholds despite levels being higher than in other countries.

Pregnant women exposed to endocrine disruptors

The perinatal component of the National Biomonitoring Program has made it possible, for the first time, to describe the exposure of pregnant women in France to certain environmental pollutants and to quantify, where possible, the factors influencing these exposure levels. This estimate is based on the measurement of biomarkers in biological samples collected in maternity wards from women who gave birth in mainland France in 2011.

The results of this study show:

• That the majority of the pollutants studied, some of which have proven or suspected endocrine-disrupting potential, are measured at quantifiable concentration levels in nearly all pregnant women included in the study. This finding confirms the ubiquity of the environmental pollutants investigated, whether they are pollutants of natural and anthropogenic origin (lead, mercury, and other metals) or pollutants of solely anthropogenic origin (BPA, phthalates, PCBs) for which exposures are more recent;

• That certain levels of exposure are declining following the implementation of strict regulations (lead, atrazine, dioxins, furans) or changes in usage (organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides);

• That there is overexposure to mercury, PCBs, and pyrethroids (found, for example, in lice and flea treatments and pesticides);

• That diet is the primary but not the only source of exposure, as other sources are also present, particularly in indoor and outdoor air.

The Esteban Study (Study on Health, Environment, Biomonitoring, Physical Activity, and Nutrition) conducted in 2014–2016.
This study will describe the exposure of the population aged 6 to 74 to numerous environmental pollutants and track changes in adult exposure to metals, PCBs, and certain pesticides since the ENNS study.

The main results have been published in three parts: everyday pollutants, metals and pesticides, and PCBs, dioxins, and furans.

• Learn more about the results

Data on the monitoring of endocrine disruptors’ effects on reproductive health

An initial report was published in 2018 featuring a combined analysis of the four indicators of testicular dysgenesis syndrome (sperm quality, hypospadias, cryptorchidism, and testicular cancer), revealing a gradual decline in male reproductive health in France—likely dating back to the 1970s regarding sperm quality.

Data on the monitoring of cryptorchidism, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids are available. Updates to the data on sperm quality and idiopathic central precocious puberty are planned for 2022.

The decline in the monitored indicators generally appears consistent with that observed internationally but may reflect either an increase in the incidence of these conditions, greater public awareness—or even greater awareness among healthcare providers—of certain diseases (improved management, detection, or understanding of these conditions), or a combination of these factors.

Key figures from reproductive health surveillance

For more information:

• Reproductive Health and Endocrine Disruptors. Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, July 3, 2018, No. 22-23.

• Urogenital malformations in boys

• Testicular cancer

• Idiopathic central precocious puberty

At the local level

Exposure to chlordecone among nearly the entire Caribbean population

Among pesticides with endocrine-disrupting properties, chlordecone—a pesticide now banned—was widely used in the Caribbean for banana cultivation.
In response to public concerns regarding the effects of chlordecone pollution in Martinique and Guadeloupe, the French government implemented the Chlordecone I (2008–2010) and II (2011–2013) plans.
Building on the first two plans, the Chlordecone III Plan (2014–2020) aims to continue the actions undertaken to protect the population (monitoring and research) while also supporting professionals heavily impacted by this pollution.

The Kannari study, launched in 2013 by ANSES, Santé publique France, and the Regional Health Observatories with support from the Regional Health Agencies of Martinique and Guadeloupe, characterized chlordecone exposure among the general population and various subpopulations in the French West Indies previously identified as potentially overexposed.
The main findings of this study show:

• That chlordecone was detected in 90% of study participants.

• That the average level of chlordecone in the blood is comparable in Martinique and Guadeloupe (0.14 and 0.13 μg/L).

• That levels vary significantly within the study population: 5% of participants have a level of exposure at least ten times higher (> 1.24 μg/L) than the average level.

• Since 2003, a decrease in chlordecone exposure has been observed for the majority of the population, but the levels among the most exposed individuals have not decreased.

• That the general population and agricultural workers have been and continue to be exposed to other pesticides, which are potential endocrine disruptors.