Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD John Libbey Eurotext
Résumé : International audience
The diversity of chemicals used in hospitals (detergents-disinfectants, alcohol-based hand sanitizers, drugs, etc.) and recent developments in indoor air quality regulation of public access buildings require a better understanding of chemical risks in this particular environment. We developed a methodology for semi-quantitative chemical risk assessments in this environment to prioritize inhalation risks by sector and chemical. This methodology is based on a similar approach in the workplace that defines classes of exposures and of hazards. Their combination produces a risk matrix. Four criteria were used to determine the exposure classes: quantity and frequency of the chemical's use, volatility (vapor pressure), and the type of collective protective equipment associated with each area. The hazard class is also derived from four criteria: classification as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction, the existence of a toxicity reference value, occupational exposure limit values, and risk phrases (official risk descriptions, on labels, data sheets, etc). This methodology was tested in the Rennes University Hospital (Rennes, France) in five different hospital areas, with a specific survey undertaken to collect data about chemicals in each area. The results show the spatial specificity of chemical risks. Among the various sites analysed, the chemical risks of two require priority attention: the parasitology-mycology laboratory and patients' rooms. Because of their wide use in the hospital and the volatility of some of their components (alcohols), detergents-disinfectants contribute to increasing risk levels in all areas. The model is therefore discriminatory in terms of areas and substances.
ISSN: 1635-0421

hal-00952349
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00952349
DOI : 10.1684/ers.2013.0659

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Dietary exposure to pesticide residues may present a risk to public health, especially for sensitive populations such as pregnant women. To characterize this risk, this study assessed chronic dietary exposure to pesticide residues based on the French ELFE cohort. A self-administered food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) about the last three months of pregnancy filled in by pregnant women in 2011 was used in combination with occurrence data from French Total Diet Studies completed by the results of national monitoring programs on pesticide residues in food. The dietary intake of pesticides (μg/kg of body weight/day) was estimated for 14,099 pregnant women with a complete FFQ, for 317 substances under two occurrence scenarios to handle left-censored data: a lower-bound scenario (LB), where undetected results were set to zero, and an upper-bound scenario (UB), where undetected results were set to the detection limit if the substance was expected to be found in food and zero if it was not. The risk was assessed for 284 substances with a toxicological reference value (TRV) and a good coverage level of the diet potentially contributing to pesticide intake. The cumulative risk was also assessed for seven effects on nervous and thyroid systems using the hazard index and the Cumulative Assessment Groups defined by EFSA. Substances with the highest exposure levels under the LB scenario were, in decreasing order, imazalil, piperonyl butoxide, chlorpropham, thiabendazole, iprodione and propargite. Under the LB scenario, only for lindane did women have a statistically significant probability of exceeding the TRV (2.4%). Under the UB scenario, risk could not be excluded for nine other substances. A better management of left-censored data and more sensitive analyses of the main food contributors might help to refine the UB exposure and risk assessments. A statistically significant cumulative risk was found for neurochemical effects related to high intake levels of three organophosphate insecticides (chlorpyrifos, pirimiphos-methyl and dimethoate) mainly detected in fruits and cereals
ISSN: 0160-4120

hal-01319892
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01319892
DOI : 10.1016/j.envint.2016.04.007
PUBMED : 27187793

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD John Libbey Eurotext
Résumé : International audience
Environmental health risk assessment is commonly used in France for risk management purposes. The Methodology section of the "Société française de santé environnement" (French Society for Environmental Health) seeks to improve the utility and implementation of risk assessment in France. An initial operational objective is to make a list of short-, intermediate- and long-term improvements. This inventory is based in part on the experience and expertise of society members in this area and in part on their analysis of "Science and Decisions: Advancing Risk Assessment" (National Research Council 2009). In this paper, the Society recommends modifications in the indications for and use of risk assessments, during each of the four stages of the process: hazard identification and dose-response assessment, exposure assessment, risk characterization, and results interpretation. Some may be implemented now, while others need consensus building or research because of gaps in knowledge. Environmental health risk assessment must be understood as a decision tool for risk management in situations of uncertainly. Thus, appropriate linkage is required between decision making and assessment, and between the methods and the expected results.
L'évaluation des risques sanitaires est fréquemment utilisée en France dans les processus de décision en santé environnementale. La section " Méthodologie d'évaluation des risques sanitaires " de la Société française de santé environnement (SFSE) s'est donnée pour objectif de proposer des éléments de réflexion et des outils méthodologiques en vue d'améliorer l'utilité et les pratiques de l'évaluation des risques sanitaires. Un premier objectif opérationnel est l'inventaire des améliorations possibles à court, moyen et long termes à apporter à la démarche et à son utilisation. Ce travail s'est fondé, d'une part, sur la pratique et l'expertise des membres de la section, et, d'autre part, sur une lecture critique du rapport " Science and Decisions : Advancing Risk Assessment " publié en 2009 par le National Research Council et portant également sur les évolutions de la démarche. Dans cet article, la section restitue les conclusions de cet inventaire critique et propose un certain nombre d'améliorations en termes d'indications et d'utilisations de l'évaluation des risques sanitaires pour chacune des quatre étapes : identification des dangers et relation dose-réponse ; évaluation de l'exposition ; caractérisation des risques ; et interprétation des résultats. Certaines recommandations peuvent être mises en oeuvre immédiatement ; d'autres, en préalable à leur mise en oeuvre, nécessitent un consensus ou encore de la recherche car les connaissances manquent. En conclusion, la section insiste sur le fait que l'évaluation des risques sanitaires doit être comprise comme une aide à la décision en situation d'incertitude ; l'articulation entre le contexte décisionnel et l'évaluation, sa méthodologie et les résultats attendus est donc primordiale.
ISSN: 1635-0421

ineris-00963325
https://hal-ineris.archives-ouvertes.fr/ineris-00963325
DOI : 10.1684/ers.2011.0435
INERIS : EN-2012-016

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD John Libbey Eurotext
Résumé : International audience
Chemical risk assessment is a tool used in decision-making processes concerning situations of scientific uncertainty. Approaches to risk assessment in occupational and environmental health share the same objective of risk prevention. Nevertheless, the methods for both differ depending on whether the goal is to enforce regulations or conduct expert assessments and studies. These differences are stronger in occupational health, for which regulations require risk assessments at the work station, to classify and prioritize exposure situations to implement occupational risk prevention strategies. Risk assessment thus has somewhat different meanings in occupational and environmental health. This article attempts to clarify the different terms used in the different contexts and to describe the similarities and differences of the two approaches.
ISSN: 1635-0421

hal-00936256
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00936256
DOI : 10.1684/ers.2013.0646

Éditeur(s) : Public Library Science
Résumé : Where conservation resources are limited and conservation targets are diverse, robust yet flexible priority-setting frameworks are vital. Priority-setting is especially important for geographically widespread species with distinct populations subject to multiple threats that operate on different spatial and temporal scales. Marine turtles are widely distributed and exhibit intra-specific variations in population sizes and trends, as well as reproduction and morphology. However, current global extinction risk assessment frameworks do not assess conservation status of spatially and biologically distinct marine turtle Regional Management Units (RMUs), and thus do not capture variations in population trends, impacts of threats, or necessary conservation actions across individual populations. To address this issue, we developed a new assessment framework that allowed us to evaluate, compare and organize marine turtle RMUs according to status and threats criteria. Because conservation priorities can vary widely (i.e. from avoiding imminent extinction to maintaining long-term monitoring efforts) we developed a "conservation priorities portfolio" system using categories of paired risk and threats scores for all RMUs (n = 58). We performed these assessments and rankings globally, by species, by ocean basin, and by recognized geopolitical bodies to identify patterns in risk, threats, and data gaps at different scales. This process resulted in characterization of risk and threats to all marine turtle RMUs, including identification of the world's 11 most endangered marine turtle RMUs based on highest risk and threats scores. This system also highlighted important gaps in available information that is crucial for accurate conservation assessments. Overall, this priority-setting framework can provide guidance for research and conservation priorities at multiple relevant scales, and should serve as a model for conservation status assessments and priority-setting for widespread, long-lived taxa.
Plos One (1932-6203) (Public Library Science), 2011-09 , Vol. 6 , N. 9 , P. 1-14

Droits : 2011 Wallace et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00050/16097/13573.pdf
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0024510
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00050/16097/

Éditeur(s) : Academic Press Ltd- Elsevier Science Ltd
Résumé : Cooperation between the social and natural sciences has become essential in order to encompass all the dimensions of coastal zone management. Socio-economic approaches are increasingly recommended to complement integrated assessment in support of these initiatives. A systematic review of the academic literature was carried out in order to analyze the main types of socio-economic assessments used to inform the coastal zone management process as well as their effectiveness. A corpus of 1682 articles published between 1992 and 2011 was identified by means of the representative coverage approach, from which 170 were selected by applying inclusion/exclusion criteria and then classified using a content analysis methodology. The percentage of articles that mention the use of socio-economic assessment in support of coastal zone management initiatives is increasing but remains relatively low. The review examines the links between the issues addressed by integrated assessments and the chosen analytical frameworks as well as the various economic assessment methods which are used in the successive steps of the coastal zone management process. The results show that i) analytical frameworks such as 'risk and vulnerability', 'DPSIR', 'valuation', 'ecosystem services' and 'preferences' are likely to lead to effective integration of social sciences in coastal zone management research while 'integration', 'sustainability' and 'participation' remain difficult to operationalize, ii) risk assessments are insufficiently implemented in developing countries, and iii) indicator systems in support of multi-criteria analyses could be used during more stages of the coastal zone management process. Finally, it is suggested that improved collaboration between science and management would require that scientists currently involved in coastal zone management processes further educate themselves in integrated assessment approaches and participatory methodologies.
Journal Of Environmental Management (0301-4797) (Academic Press Ltd- Elsevier Science Ltd), 2015-02-01 , Vol. 149 , P. 85-96

Droits : 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00255/36598/35167.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.10.018
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00255/36598/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Understanding long-term variability in the frequency of intense storm activity is important for assessing whether changes are controlled by climate evolution. Understanding this variability is also important for predicting present and future community vulnerability and economic loss. Our ability to make these assessments has been limited by the short (less than 50 years) instrument record of storm activity. Storm-induced deposits preserved in the sediments of coastal lagoons offer the opportunity to study the links between climatic conditions and storm activity on longer timescales. In this study, we present a record of these extreme climatic events that have occurred in the French Mediterrannean coast over the past 1500 years. The identification of these extreme events is based on the analysis of sediment cores from Gulf of Aigues-Mortes lagoons that contain a specific sedimentary and geochemical signature associated with intense storms.;Overwash deposits do not show any evidence of intense storm landfalls in the region for several hundred years prior to the late 17th century A.D. The apparent increase in intense storms around 250 years ago occurs during the latter half of the Little Ice Age, a time of lower continental surface temperatures. Comparison of the sediment record with palaeoclimate records indicates that this variability was probably modulated by atmospheric dynamics. The apparent increase of the superstorm activity during the latter half of the Little Ice Age was probably due to the thermal gradient increase leading to enhanced lower tropospheric baroclinicity over a large Central Atlantic/European domain and leading to a modification of the occurrence of extreme wind events along the French Mediterranean coast. A complete understanding of the relationship between climate fluctuations, storm activity, and the coastal response will be crucial to predicting the impacts of future climate change.
ISSN: 0031-0182

hal-00617525
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00617525
DOI : 10.1016/j.palaeo.2010.11.009

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Endocrine Society
Résumé : International audience
The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) paradigm is one of the most rapidly expanding areas of biomedical research. Environmental stressors that can impact on DOHaD encompass a variety of environmental and occupational hazards as well as deficiency and oversupply of nutrients and energy. They can disrupt early developmental processes and lead to increased susceptibility to disease/dysfunctions later in life. Presentations at the fourth Conference on Prenatal Programming and Toxicity in Boston, in October 2014, provided important insights and led to new recommendations for research and public health action. The conference highlighted vulnerable exposure windows that can occur as early as the preconception period and epigenetics as a major mechanism than can lead to disadvantageous "reprogramming" of the genome, thereby potentially resulting in transgenerational effects. Stem cells can also be targets of environmental stressors, thus paving another way for effects that may last a lifetime. Current testing paradigms do not allow proper characterization of risk factors and their interactions. Thus, relevant exposure levels and combinations for testing must be identified from human exposure situations and outcome assessments. Testing of potential underpinning mechanisms and biomarker development require laboratory animal models and in vitro approaches. Only few large-scale birth cohorts exist, and collaboration between birth cohorts on a global scale should be facilitated. DOHaD-based research has a crucial role in establishing factors leading to detrimental outcomes and developing early preventative/remediation strategies to combat these risks
ISSN: 0013-7227

hal-01187409
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01187409
DOI : 10.1210/EN.2015-1350
PUBMED : 26241067

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier Masson
Résumé : National audience
OBJECTIVES: Medical tools to determine the imminence of unplanned out-of-hospital birth have not been validated. The main goal of this study was to analyze assessments of the imminence of these deliveries, by methods such as the Manilas score and the need to push. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All calls made to the Emergency Medical Aid Service in Guadeloupe concerning risks of unplanned delivery between January 1st and June 30th 2011 were reviewed retrospectively, and 69 of the 85 cases cared for by the hospital mobile emergency unit were included. RESULTS: Risks of unplanned out-of-hospital deliveries represented 1.9% of the calls during the study period. The Malinas score was used for dispatching in only 13% and was not used for intervention in any case. It was estimated that the need-to-push feeling was used for 58% (dispatching) and 54.5% (intervention) of patients. Its sensitivity, specificity and predictive values were higher than those of the Malinas score in dispatching and substantially higher in intervention. CONCLUSION: These results argue for the development of tools for estimating the imminence of unplanned delivery. Such tools should be applicable in extra-hospital emergency situations to ensure their use in practice.
ISSN: 0368-2315

hal-01063667
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01063667
DOI : 10.1016/j.jgyn.2013.01.009
PUBMED : 23490410

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
BACKGROUND: The exposure of children to lead has decreased in recent years, thanks notably to the banning of leaded gasoline. However, lead exposure remains a matter of public health concern, because no toxicity threshold has been observed, cognitive effects having been demonstrated even at low levels. It is therefore important to update exposure assessments. A national study was conducted, in 2008-2009, to determine the blood lead level (BLL) distribution in children between the ages of six months and six years in France. We also assessed the contribution of environmental factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey included 3831 children recruited at hospitals. Two-stage probability sampling was carried out, with stratification by hospital and French region. Sociodemographic characteristics were recorded, and blood samples and environmental data were collected by questionnaire. Generalized linear model and quantile regression were used to quantify the association between BLL and environmental risk factors. RESULTS: The geometric mean BLL was 14.9μg/l (95% confidence interval (CI)=[14.5-15.4]) and 0.09% of the children (95% CI=[0.03-0.15]) had BLLs exceeding 100μg/l, 1.5% (95% CI=[0.9-2.1] exceeding 50μg/l. Only slight differences were observed between French regions. Environmental factors significantly associated with BLL were the consumption of tap water in homes with lead service connections, peeling paint or recent renovations in old housing, hand-mouth behavior, passive smoking and having a mother born in a country where lead is often used. CONCLUSIONS: In children between the ages of one and six years in France, lead exposure has decreased over the last 15 years as in the US and other European countries. Nevertheless still 76,000 children have BLL over 50μg/l and prevention policies must be pursued, especially keeping in mind there is no known toxicity threshold.
ISSN: 1438-4639

hal-01009847
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01009847
PUBMED : 24262290
DOI : 10.1016/j.ijheh.2013.10.002