The first Kannari study, conducted in 2013, showed that 9 out of 10 people in the French West Indies had chlordecone in their blood.

The new edition of this survey—Kannari 2—aims to track changes in this exposure 10 years later.

Kannari 2 will also examine other pollutants (pesticides and heavy metals) found in water, soil, food, and certain everyday products.

Objectives

• To study the exposure of residents of Guadeloupe and Martinique to chlordecone, particularly among those most exposed (agricultural workers, fishermen, and residents of contaminated areas) and those most vulnerable (children and women of childbearing age)

• To study the exposure of residents to other pollutants, particularly pesticides and heavy metals

• To study changes in exposure levels since the 2013 Kannari survey

• Study the influence of working conditions, living environments, dietary habits, etc., on exposure levels

Participation in the study

All adults and children aged 6 and older are eligible for the study.

3,000 people (2,300 adults and 700 children aged 6 and older) who have lived in mainland Guadeloupe or Martinique for at least 6 months will be selected by random draw.

Adults aged 18 and older will be selected at random from among beneficiaries of the General Social Security Funds (CGSS Martinique, CGSS Guadeloupe) and the National Institution for Disabled Marines (ENIM).

Children aged 6 to 17 will be selected by lottery at the homes of the selected adults.

Special attention will be given to women of childbearing age (15–49 years old), agricultural workers, fishermen, and people living in contaminated areas.

Kannari 2: A Biomonitoring Study

Biomonitoring is the measurement of the concentration levels in the body (or body burden) of chemicals and pollutants found in food, everyday objects, air, soil, and water.

Human biomonitoring allows for the monitoring of exposures leading to the presence of these chemicals in the body. It involves measuring the levels of the target substances in blood or urine samples. The measurement takes into account all sources of exposure that enter the body (through breathing, diet, etc.) in all living environments (home, workplace, etc.) depending on our activities or the nature of the products consumed.

What other pollutants were measured in our study?

The pollutants measured all have the potential to impact the health of children and adults.

• Some were already measured in the 2013 Kannari study: lindane, PCBs, and hexacyclobenzene.

• Others will be measured for the first time: glyphosate, pyrethroid metabolites, and several heavy metals (lead, arsenic, mercury).

The selection of pollutants was made in collaboration with local partners. It was reviewed by the scientific advisory board of the National Biomonitoring Program, led by Santé publique France. These measurements will provide a comprehensive overview of the various pollutants to which the population of the French West Indies is exposed.

Timeline

• June 2023: The first phase of the study involved 150 people (adults and children) selected at random from 6 municipalities in mainland Guadeloupe and Martinique

• January–July 2024: Rollout of the large-scale study involving 3,000 people (including 700 children) across all municipalities of mainland Guadeloupe and Martinique

• 2024–2025: Analysis of biological samples

• 2025: Data analysis and distribution of results to participants

• 2026: Final report and dissemination of results to residents and decision-makers

Study Procedure

Those selected at random will be notified by mail. They will then be visited at their homes for:

• a detailed presentation of the study by a researcher and the collection of their consent to participate;

• a clinical examination by a nurse and the collection of biological samples (urine and blood);

• complete a questionnaire about their lifestyle, diet, and work and leisure activities.

This study relies on the voluntary participation of the individuals selected at random.

What will the results be used for?

Conducted on a population-wide scale, human biomonitoring makes it possible to:

• assess the level of internal exposure of that population to chemicals;

• provide public health officials with information regarding population exposure to chemicals, their sources, and the predominant routes of exposure.

When repeated over time, biomonitoring helps assess the impact of public policies aimed at regulating the presence of chemicals. It is a valuable tool for proposing solutions to reduce the population’s exposure to chemicals.

The results will help identify the sources that contribute most to these exposures and propose recommendations to limit them.

Partnership and Funding

The Kannari 2 study is part of the National Chlordecone Plan IV (2021–2027), one of whose measures focuses on monitoring changes in chlordecone exposure among people from the French West Indies.

This study is conducted by Santé publique France:

• With support from the Ipsos Institute and the Regional Health Observatories (ORS) of Martinique and Guadeloupe;

• In collaboration with the General Social Security Funds (CGSS) of Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Saint Martin, and the National Institution for Disabled Seamen (ENIM);

• With financial support from the Ministry of Health and Prevention, the Ministry of the Interior and Overseas Territories, the National Health Insurance Fund (Cnam), the Regional Health Agencies (ARS) of Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin, and Saint Barthélemy, the Prefectures of Guadeloupe and Martinique, and the Departmental Council of Guadeloupe.

Data Privacy

The Kannari 2 study has been recognized as being in the public interest by the National Council for Statistical Information (CNIS) and has been authorized by the Comité de Protection des Personnes Ouest III (22.03475) and the National Commission for Information Technology and Civil Liberties (D-2023-018-922266).

The analyses to be performed on the data will comply with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2016/679 of April 27, 2016, as well as Law No. 78-17 of January 6, 1978, on information technology, files, and civil liberties.