Context: Participatory research in environmental health remains rare in France. The objectives of environmental health research projects can, like their methods, be very diverse. Opportunities for greater involvement of civil society, as well as its challenges, differ at each step of such research activities. All these aspects need to be widely shared. As a preparatory step toward the development of concrete new participatory research projects on multiple environmental exposures, the LILAS project aimed to (1) favor the mutual understanding of the main issues and research methods in environmental health and their stakes for different participants, but also the requirements, strengths, and limitations of these methods, and (2) identify the expected benefits and points to watch out for related to stronger civic participation in these projects. Methods: The LILAS project identified and gathered together institutional researchers, academics and civil society participants (mainly from nongovernmental organizations) interested in multiple exposures (chemical and radiological). The relevant literature was searched to learn from previous participatory research projects in this broad field. Several meetings enabled the group to collectively identify different types of studies and analyze the benefits, limitations and methods related to the introduction of such participation. An analysis matrix was co-constructed and completed by study participants, as in a Living Lab approach. Results: The matrix lists for different types of studies (assessment of environmental exposures, identification of their determinants, interventions on these exposures, quantitative risk assessment, epidemiological studies, experimental research, ecosystem health, etc.) the expected benefits for several categories of stakeholders, the fundamental principles of research methods, and their related practical constraints, advantages and limitations related to the use of participatory or more standard approaches. Conclusion: The LILAS project enabled the development of a solid basis for the co-construction of participatory research projects to study multiple environmental exposures.

This article aims at comparing reference methods for the assessment of cancer risk from exposure to genotoxic carcinogen chemical substances and to ionizing radiation. For chemicals, cancer potency is expressed as a toxicological reference value (TRV) based on the most sensitive type of cancer generally observed in animal experiments of oral or inhalation exposure. A dose-response curve is established by modelling experimental data adjusted to apply to human exposure. This leads to a point of departure from which the TRV is derived as the slope of a linear extrapolation to zero dose. Human lifetime cancer risk can then be assessed as the product of dose by TRV and it is generally considered to be tolerable in a 10-6-10-4 range for the public in a normal situation. Radiation exposure is assessed as an effective dose corresponding to a weighted average of energy deposition in body organs. Cancer risk models were derived from the epidemiological follow-up of atomic bombing survivors. Considering a linear-no-threshold dose-risk relationship and average baseline risks, lifetime nominal risk coefficients were established for 13 types of cancers. Those are adjusted according to the severity of each cancer type and combined into an overall indicator denominated radiation detriment. Exposure to radiation is subject to dose limits proscribing unacceptable health detriment. The differences between chemical and radiological cancer risk assessments are discussed and concern data sources, extrapolation to low doses, definition of dose, considered health effects and level of conservatism. These differences should not be an insuperable impediment to the comparison of TRVs with radiation risk, thus opportunities exist to bring closer the two types of risk assessment.

L’epidemie COVID-19 pose de nombreuses questions. Quels sont les liens de cette crise sanitaire avec la faune sauvage, quels sont ses liens avec l’erosion de la biodiversite que le dernier rapport de l’Ipbes a souligne, quels sont ses liens avec certains systemes de production alimentaire et plus generalement avec l’anthropisation de la planete ? Pour les eclairer sur ces sujets, les pouvoirs publics se sont tournes vers la recherche.

This article, written to summarize recent work by the SFSE's risk and society section, reviews all the evidence provided by stakeholders who agreed to contribute to the debate on the diversity of information sources about pesticides and its effect on the perception of environmental and health risks. The article defines, contextualizes and, where necessary, supplements the scope of the work, while attempting to integrate all the components of this complex subject, from the definition of pesticides to the analysis of perceptions intrinsically linked to the sociohistorical transformations of these substances themselves as well as of society and its citizens.

The marketing authorization (MAA) of pesticides, in particular plant protection products and biocides, is governed by national and European legislation. This paper provides a definition of plant protection products and biocides, and explains the broad outlines of this regulatory framework and the actors involved in these processes.

Contexte Les recherches participatives en sante-environnement restent peu developpees en France. Les objectifs poursuivis de maniere generale par les recherches en sante-environnement (ex : identifier des situations potentiellement a risque, estimer des expositions, evaluer des effets, tester des actions preventives) et les methodes employees a ces fins sont varies. Les opportunites d’une plus grande implication de la societe civile et defis associes different a chaque etape de ces recherches. Ces aspects demandent a etre mieux apprehendes collectivement. Le projet LILAS vise, en amont du developpement de futurs projets de recherches participatives sur les multi-expositions environnementales, a 1) co-construire, entre chercheurs institutionnels, academiques et representants de la societe civile, une bonne comprehension commune des principales problematiques et methodes de recherche en sante-environnement, de leurs enjeux, prerequis, forces et limites 2) identifier les benefices et points de vigilance lies a l’introduction de plus fortes dimensions participatives dans ces recherches. Methode adoptee Le projet LILAS a rassemble des chercheurs institutionnels, academiques et representants de la societe civile interesses par les multi-expositions (chimiques, radiologiques). Une recherche bibliographique a ete initiee pour tirer le retour d’experience de projets de recherches participatives en sante-environnement. Plusieurs reunions ont permis d’identifier collectivement differents types d’etudes et de reflechir sur les apports, limites et principes methodologiques relatifs a l’introduction de differents degres de participation dans celles-ci. Une matrice d’analyse a ete co-construite puis alimentee par les participants, en s’inspirant des approches « Living Lab ». Resultats Pour differents types d’etudes (etudes d’evaluations d’expositions, d’identification de leurs determinants, tests d’interventions sur ceux-ci, developpement de capteurs, evaluations de risques sanitaires, etudes epidemiologiques, recherches experimentales, etudes sur la sante des ecosystemes…), la matrice liste les benefices attendus pour plusieurs categories de parties prenantes, les principes methodologiques fondamentaux et contraintes pratiques, les avantages et limites relatifs a l’emploi d’approches participatives (comme l’approche Living Lab) ou plus “classiques”, mais egalement les besoins d’accompagnements institutionnels et les effets structurants necessaires a leur deploiement et leur amelioration qualitative. Conclusion LILAS a permis, par acculturation croisee, de poser des bases consolidees pour la co-construction de futurs projets de recherches participatives sur les multi-expositions environnementales.

The European Food Safety Authority concluded in February 2018 that “most uses of neonicotinoid insecticides represent a risk to wild bees and honeybees”. In 2016, the French government passed a law banning the use of the five neonicotinoids previously authorized: clothianidin, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, acetamiprid and thiacloprid. In the framework of an expert assessment conducted by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety to identify possible derogations, we performed a thorough assessment of the available alternatives to the five banned neonicotinoids. For each pest targeted by neonicotinoids use, we identified the main alternative pest management methods, which we then ranked for (i) efficacy for controlling the target pest, (ii) applicability (whether directly useable by farmers or in need of further research and development), (iii) durability (risk of resistance in targeted pests), and (iv) practicability (ease of implementation by farmers). We identified 152 authorized uses of neonicotinoids in France, encompassing 120 crops and 279 pest insect species (or genera). An effective alternative to neonicotinoids use was available in 96% of the 2968 case studies analyzed from the literature (single combinations of one alternative pest control method or product × one target crop plant × one target pest insect). The most common alternative to neonicotinoids (89% of cases) was the use of another chemical insecticide (mostly pyrethroids). However, in 78% of cases, at least one non-chemical alternative method could replace neonicotinoids (e.g. microorganisms, semiochemicals or surface coating). The relevance of non-chemical alternatives to neonicotinoids depends on pest feeding habits. Leaf and flower feeders are easier to control with non-chemical methods, whereas wood and root feeders are more difficult to manage by such methods. We also found that further field studies were required for many promising non-chemical methods before their introduction into routine use by farmers. Our findings, transmitted to policymakers, indicate that non-chemical alternatives to neonicotinoids do exist. Furthermore, they highlight the need to promote these methods through regulation and funding, with a view to reducing pesticide use in agriculture.

Risques et benefices relatifs des alternatives aux produits phytopharmaceutiques comportant des neonicotinoides. Tome 1 – Rapport du groupe de travail Identification des alternatives aux usages autorises des neonicotinoides

A lotic mesocosm study was carried out in 20-m-long channels, under continuous, environmentally realistic concentrations of copper (Cu) in low, medium, and high exposures (nominally 0, 5, 25, and 75 mu gL(-1); average effective concentrations <0.5, 4, 20, and 57 mu gL(-1) respectively) for 18 mo. Total abundance, taxa richness, and community structure of zooplankton, macroinvertebrates, and emerging insects were severely affected at Cu treatment levels of 25 and 75 mu gL(-1). Some taxa were sensitive to Cu, including gastropods such as Lymnaea spp. and Physa sp., crustaceans such as Chydorus sphaericus, Gammarus pulex, and Asellus aquaticus, rotifers such as Mytilina sp. and Trichocerca sp., leeches such as Erpobdella sp., and the emergence of dipteran insects such as Chironomini. Other taxa appeared to be tolerant or favored by indirect effects, as in Chironimidae larvae, the emergence of Orthocladiinae, and the zooplankter Vorticella sp., which increased in the 25 and 75 mu gL(-1) treatments. After approximately 8 mo of Cu exposure, the macroinvertebrate community in the high treatment was decimated to the point that few organisms could be detected, with moderate effects in the medium treatment, and very slight effects in the low-Cu treatment. Subsequently, most taxa in the high-Cu exposure began a gradual and partial recovery. By the end of the study at 18 mo, macroinvertebrate taxa richness was similar to control richness, although overall abundances remained lower than controls. After 18 mo of copper exposure, a no-observed-effect concentration at the community level for consumers was set at 5 mu gL(-1) (4 mu gL(-1) as average effective concentration), and a lowest-observed-effect concentration at 25 mu gL(-1)(20 mu gL(-1) as average effective concentration). (C) 2017 SETAC

A bioanalytical approach was used to identify chemical contaminants at river sites located downstream from a pharmaceutical factory, where reproductive alterations in wild fish have been previously observed. By using polar organic compound integrative samplers (POCIS) at upstream and downstream sites, biological activity profiles based on in vitro bioassays revealed the occurrence of xenobiotic and steroid-like activities, including very high glucocorticoid, antimineralocorticoid, progestogenic and pregnane X receptor (PXR)-like activities (μg standard-EQ/g of sorbent range), and weak estrogenic activity (ng E2-EQ/g of sorbent range). Chemical analyses detected up to 60 out of 118 targeted steroid and pharmaceutical compounds in the extracts. In vitro profiling of occurring individual chemicals revealed the ability of several ones to act as agonist and/or antagonist of different steroids receptors. Mass balance calculation identified dexamethasone, spironolactone, and 6-alpha-methylprednisolone as major contributors to corticosteroid activities and levonorgestrel as the main contributor to progestogenic activities. Finally, RP-HPLC based fractionation of POCIS extracts and testing activity of fractions confirmed identified compounds and further revealed the presence of other unknown active chemicals. This study is one of the first to report environmental contamination by such chemicals; their possible contribution to in situ effects on fish at the same site is suggested.

A set of biochemical and histological responses was measured in wild gudgeon collected upstream and downstream of urban and pharmaceutical manufacture effluents. These individual end-points were associated to fish assemblage characterisation. Responses of biotransformation enzymes, neurotoxicity and endocrine disruption biomarkers revealed contamination of investigated stream by a mixture of pollutants. Fish from sampled sites downstream of the industrial effluent exhibited also strong signs of endocrine disruption including vitellogenin induction, intersex and male-biased sex-ratio. These individual effects were associated to a decrease of density and a lack of sensitive fish species. This evidence supports the hypothesis that pharmaceutical compounds discharged in stream are involved in recorded endocrine disruption effects and fish population disturbances and threaten disappearance of resident fish species. Overall, this study gives argument for the utilisation of an effect-based monitoring approach to assess impacts of pharmaceutical manufacture discharges on wild fish populations.

Le cuivre est un metal tres employe dans de nombreux secteurs industriels (15 millions de tonnes par an dans le monde). Les câbles electriques et les applications electroniques representent la majeure partie de son utilisation (9,75 x 106 t/an). Les autres secteurs concernes sont la construction, la plomberie, l'equipement, les industries d'alliage, de peinture, de traitement du bois, mais aussi l'agriculture pour laquelle le cuivre sert frequemment de fongicide, algicide, bactericide, herbicide et molluscicide dans les milieux aquatiques. Le cuivre est un metal essentiel, toxique a faible et a forte dose. Sa grande utilisation dans des usages dispersifs et sa toxicite connue pour de nombreux organismes ont tout naturellement conduit l'INERIS a evaluer les risques pour les ecosystemes aquatiques lies a la contamination par ce metal.