Background: Cancer is a major cause of premature illness and death in France. To quantify how cancer prevention could reduce the burden, we present estimates of the contribution of lifestyle and environmental risk factors to cancer incidence in France in 2015, comparing these with other high-income countries. Method: Prevalences of, and relative risks for tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, inadequate diet, overweight and obesity, physical inactivity, exogenous hormones, suboptimal breastfeeding, infectious agents, ionising radiation, air pollution, ultraviolet exposure, occupational exposures, arsenic in drinking water and indoor benzene were obtained to estimate the population attributable fraction (PAF) and the number of attributable cancers by the cancer site and sex. Results: In 2015, 41% (or 142,000 of 346,000) of all new cancers diagnosed in France could be attributed to the aforementioned risk factors. The numbers and PAF were slightly higher in men than in women (84,000 versus 58,000 cases and 44% versus 37%, respectively). Smoking (PAF: 20%), alcohol consumption (PAF: 8%), dietary factors (PAF: 5%) and excess weight (PAF: 5%) were the most important factors. Infections and occupational exposures each contributed to an additional 4% of the cancer cases in 2015. Conclusion: Today, two-fifths of cancers in France are attributable to preventable risk factors. The variations in the key amenable factors responsible in France relative to other economically similar countries highlight the need for tailored approaches to cancer education and prevention. Reducing smoking and alcohol consumption and the adoption of healthier diet and body weight remain important targets to reduce the increasing number of new cancer patients in France in the decades to follow. (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

BPA is one of the most investigated substances for its endocrine disruptor (ED) properties and it is at the same time in the center of many ED-related controversies. The analysis on how BPA fits to the regulatory identification as an ED is a challenge in terms of methodology. It is also a great opportunity to test the regulatory framework with a uniquely data-rich substance and learn valuable lessons for future cases. From this extensive database, it was considered important to engage in a detailed analysis so as to provide specific and strong evidences of ED while reflecting accurately the complexity of the response as well the multiplicity of adverse effects. An appropriate delineation of the scope of the analysis was therefore critical. Four effects namely, alterations of estrous cyclicity, mammary gland development, brain development and memory function, and metabolism, were considered to provide solid evidence of ED-mediated effects of BPA.

Purpose of the study. In addition to their daily activity i.e. health risk assessment, monitoring and research, health agencies seek to anticipate future risks to human health. The tools used routinely are watch and foresight. This article describes a project led by a consortium of agencies and research institutions in France, aiming at combining watch and foresight. Sustainable development and its health implications were chosen by the panel.Method. To describe the implementation of sustainable development in France in the next twenty years, a foresight exercise was performed, which led to the following five scenarios: (a) priority without limits to growth; (b) from the technological dead end to social fragmentation; (c) liberalism and green technology; (d) sobriety and low technology; (e) ecological transition orchestrated by the state. In a second step, one hundred risks related "events" were identified through a watch activity and analyzed by projecting them into the future, according to the five scenarios. The events transcribed as "mini stories" were not necessarily considered in the scenarios as they frame a more global vision.Results. This activity evidenced a variety of views, between panel members; this advocates for a collective approach. Risks to human health identified and discussed in the panel included those related e.g. to multi-recycling, agricultural practices, new dietary patterns, green jobs frequently characterized by multiple exposures, and the effect of certain technological innovations. These risks are often common to several scenarios and show various levels of impact on health. (C) 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Le perimetre de l'exercice decrit dans ce rapport est l'« impact sanitaire sur la population du au developpement de technologies vertes ». La definition retenue pour les technologies vertes est celle du ministere en charge de l’environnement : « Les technologies vertes mesurent, previennent, limitent ou corrigent les dommages environnementaux a l’eau, l’air et le sol et les problemes lies aux dechets et aux ecosystemes». L’horizon temporel prospectif, defini pour cet atelier, est de 20 ans. Ce rapport decrit trois activites menees par un groupe de travail, a l'interface veille et prospective. - Un exercice de prospective fonde sur la methode des scenarios. Il s’agissait de construire cinq scenarios fournissant autant de cadres de reference pour stimuler la reflexion sur les risques sanitaires. A chacun de ces scenarios, on peut associer une typologie de risque sanitaire. On a donc parfois volontairement « force le trait » pour faire apparaitre des situations contrastees, fournissant de la matiere pour la reflexion sur les risques. - Une action de veille dans le perimetre de l’exercice. Un peu plus de 700 « elements » ont ete rassembles. - Une recherche sur la maniere de coupler « veille et cadres de references scenarios ».

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (Anses) hosted a two-day workshop on Endocrine Disruptors: Exposure and Potential Impact on Consumers Health, bringing together participants from international organizations, academia, research institutes and from German, Swedish, Danish and French governmental agencies. The main objective of the workshop was to share knowledge and experiences on endocrine disruptors (ED) exposure and potential impact on consumers’ health, to identify current risk assessment practices and knowledge gaps and issue recommendations on research needs and future collaboration. The following topics were reviewed: (1) Definition of ED, (2) endpoints to be considered for Risk assessment (RA) of ED, (3) non-monotonic dose response curves, (4) studies to be considered for RA (regulatory versus academic studies), (5) point of departure and uncertainty factors, (6) exposure assessment, (7) regulatory issues related to ED. The opinions expressed during this workshop reflect day-to-day experiences from scientists, regulators, researchers, and others from many different countries in the fields of risk assessment, and were regarded by the attendees as an important basis for further discussions. Accordingly, the participants underlined the need for more exchange in the future to share experiences and improve the methodology related to risk assessment for endocrine disrupters.

In France, regulatory analysis of the environment and human health potential consequences is implemented for an isolated industrial activity that requests an authorization to operate using the health risk assessment method. To date, the question is enlarged to the impact of the combination of multiple sources of pollution on the same territory. The main conclusions of the work launched by the French High Council of Public Health focus on four key points: (i) the utility of conducting such an analysis at a territory scale, (ii) the delimitation of the area, (iii) the conditions for the different stakeholders' involvement, and (iv) the methodological specificities of the zone health risk assessment. The work encompassed literature reviews, seminars, and interviews of stakeholders. The utility of a Z-HRA is the central objective for the management of risk. It can no longer be conducted only for itself. The delimitation of the zone entails economic, political, environmental, and population aspects. Stakeholders become key actors in a steering and monitoring committee. Among methodological specificities, cumulative exposure comes first. Interpretation of the results should focus on risk management objectives. Finally, inclusion of Z-HRAs in flexible regulations that can be adapted to the local context is recommended.

A workshop was held in Berlin September 12–14th 2012 to assess the state of the science of the data supporting low dose effects and non-monotonic dose responses ("low dose hypothesis") for chemicals with endocrine activity (endocrine disrupting chemicals or EDCs). This workshop consisted of lectures to present the current state of the science of EDC action and also the risk assessment process. These lectures were followed by breakout sessions to integrate scientists from various backgrounds to discuss in an open and unbiased manner the data supporting the "low dose hypothesis". While no consensus was reached the robust discussions were helpful to inform both basic scientists and risk assessors on all the issues. There were a number of important ideas developed to help continue the discussion and improve communication over the next few years.