Individual results

Individual results are sent directly to participants by mail and, if they wish, to their primary care physician.

When the health examination is conducted at a health screening center, laboratory tests (complete blood count, serum creatinine, fasting blood glucose, and lipid profile) and the results of the measurements (weight, height, blood pressure, lung function, electrocardiogram, oral and dental exam, vision and hearing tests, etc.) are sent by the Health Screening Centers approximately two weeks after the health screening.

When the health examination is conducted at home (for children and adult participants who wish to do so), the laboratory test results are sent by the Health Examination Centers’ laboratories approximately two weeks after the examination, and the measurement results (weight, height, and blood pressure) are communicated directly to the participant by the nurse on the day of the examination.

The results for metals (cadmium, mercury, arsenic, nickel, antimony, cobalt, aluminum) and ferritin and transferrin levels are provided at the end of the study for all participants. Certain biological test results will be available only for some participants: lead, plasma folate (women aged 15 to 49); cotinine and 13 specific allergy markers—respiratory allergens and/or food allergens—(for children aged 6 to 17).

The results are accompanied by comments to aid in their interpretation and understanding. Participants are advised to consult a doctor if the results of the laboratory tests warrant it.

Certain tests cannot be interpreted on an individual basis based on current scientific knowledge. These results are not automatically provided. However, they can be obtained upon written request. These tests cover the following substances: pesticides, perfluorinated compounds and brominated flame retardants, dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), furans, bisphenols and phthalates, benzene and toluene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and cotinine in children.

Collective Results

The complete aggregate results of the Esteban study are widely disseminated with the aim of improving our public health policies: press releases, conferences, online publications, scientific articles, etc.

The dissemination of the results is specifically intended for policymakers, healthcare professionals, scientists, and representatives of civil society organizations.

They supplement the information already available and shed light on numerous issues related to diet, physical activity, the environment, and health.

The results of the nutrition component of the Esteban study are published in the form of thematic chapters.

The results on high blood pressure and cholesterol are published as scientific articles in the BEH and in international journals.

The results of the biomonitoring component are published by family of environmental substances.

Where are we now?

The fieldwork for the study was completed on March 31, 2016. A total of 2,503 adults and 1,104 children were included and completed all stages of the protocol (1st and 2nd home visits, 24-hour recalls, health examinations at the CES or at home).

As of March 31, 2016, nearly 156,000 samples (blood, plasma, serum, and urine) and nearly 3,000 hair strands had been stored in the biobank.

The fieldwork phase of the study gave way to data validation, quality control, and cleaning, followed by laboratory testing and data analysis.

Publication Schedule

Since 2019, all results from the nutrition component have been available.

The results of the biomonitoring component regarding bisphenols, phthalates, brominated flame retardants, perfluorinated compounds, glycol ethers, and parabens have been published. Since July 1, 2021, the results on metals have been available. Finally, since December 2021, results on pesticides, PCBs, dioxins, and furans have been available on our website.

Results regarding respiratory diseases and allergies in children will be published as scientific articles.

Results regarding the prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes, as well as prediabetes, have been published since the end of 2019.