Millions of people use the metro and other underground transport systems to get around seven large urban areas of France. Improving air quality inside underground railway areas is one of the objectives of the National Environmental Health Action Plan. Having received a request from the public authorities, ANSES confirms the need to continue taking action to limit the exposure of users by reducing concentrations of airborne particulate matter. To that end, the Agency is proposing monitoring indicators to strengthen air quality monitoring in these environments.

In an expert appraisal published today, ANSES highlights the presence of several classes of hazardous chemicals in supplies – pens, glue, pencils, correction tape, notebooks – used at school, home, and the office. In order to protect the health of consumers, especially that of children, the Agency stresses the need to review the regulations and step up the monitoring of products.