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Environmental health

On a day-to-day basis and throughout our lives, the environment is a major determinant of our health.  Whether it concerns chemical substances, airborne particles or electromagnetic waves, ANSES's expertise constantly provides the latest scientific knowledge on the risk factors for environmental exposure. The Agency assesses the risks of environmental pollution and various new technologies, and also evaluates the chemicals found in everyday products.

News

Wood heating: stepping up measures to reduce air pollutant emissions
09/04/2026
News

Wood heating: stepping up measures to reduce air pollutant emissions

In France, nearly 7.5 million households use wood for heating. Although it is a widespread energy source considered to be renewable, domestic wood...
Etendre le nombre de phtalates classés toxiques pour la reproduction et perturbateurs endocriniens dans le règlement CLP
04/03/2026
News

Increasing the number of phthalates classified in the CLP Regulation as toxic for reproduction and having endocrine-disrupting properties

Phthalates are substances used as plasticisers in various everyday products. Thirteen medium-chain phthalates are already banned or restricted at...
Vaping: what are the health risks?
04/02/2026
News

Vaping: what are the health risks?

Vaping, often practised as an alternative to smoking tobacco, is gradually becoming a part of everyday life for many French people. In its expert...
Safeguard social media use to protect the health of adolescents
15/01/2026
Expert assessment

Safeguard social media use to protect the health of adolescents

There is increasing concern about the extraordinarily rapid growth in the use of social media by adolescents. ANSES has carried out an in-depth...
Proposal to classify sodium fluoride as an endocrine disruptor and reproductive toxicant
18/12/2025
News

Proposal to classify sodium fluoride as an endocrine disruptor and reproductive toxicant

Following assessments carried out under the CLP Regulation (for Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Products), ANSES is proposing to...

Decryption

08/04/2026

One Health for living beings and ecosystems

The One Health concept offers a holistic view of health. It is based on the idea that there are close links between the health of humans, animals and plants, as well as that of ecosystems. Where does…
What is cadmium and what are the health risks?
25/03/2026

What is cadmium and what are the health risks?

Cadmium is a heavy metal that occurs naturally in soil. Agricultural and industrial activities have contributed to its increased presence in the environment. We are mainly exposed to it through our…
25/03/2026

Reference values

The chemicals we are exposed to on a daily basis or in the course of occupational activities can potentially be harmful to health. ANSES develops various reference values that are of use firstly, for…
16/03/2026

Taking action to improve indoor air quality

In contrast to outdoor air pollution, which has received significant media attention, indoor air pollution remained relatively unknown until the early 2000s. And yet we spend most of our time in…
18/02/2026

What are the health issues associated with outdoor air pollution?

Air pollution has become one of the main challenges in public health today. Every day, multiple sources of pollution (road traffic, heating, industry, agriculture) expose us to substances that are…
18/02/2026

ANSES’s work on air quality

Air – whether outdoors or in enclosed environments – can become polluted with chemicals, particles and biological contaminants that are hazardous to health. For many years, ANSES has been focusing on…
10/02/2026

Indoor Air Quality Guidelines (IAQGs)

To deal with the health issue of indoor air quality and provide the public authorities with useful tools for managing this risk, ANSES has been working since 2004 to develop indoor air quality…
10/02/2026

Toxicity reference values (TRVs)

As part of its missions and under the French National Environmental & Health Action Plan (2004-2008), the Agency began a national programme on TRVs in 2004 with the aim of building solid French…
09/01/2026

ANSES’s work on titanium dioxide

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is or has been used for many applications, such as in paint, food, cosmetics and medicines. In particular, it is produced and used widely in nanoscale form, which makes it…
09/01/2026

Titanium dioxide

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is used among other things for its ability to absorb ultraviolet rays and its whitening qualities. Authorised as a food additive in France until 2020 and at European level…
27/10/2025

Understanding more about exposure to PFAS and the associated hazards

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, collectively known as PFAS, are chemicals that share one main characteristic: they are very persistent in the environment. This persistence means they can be found…
24/10/2025

PFASs: very persistent chemicals

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, better known as PFAS, are chemicals whose specific properties mean that they are used in many everyday products. Extremely persistent, PFAS are found in all…

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