Human hormonal treatments: be careful not to expose your pets
In dogs and cats, repeated contact with their owner’s topical hormone replacement therapy can cause hormonal problems. Following reports of adverse effects in several European countries, ANSES-ANMV (French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products) is inviting owners to apply these medications with the necessary precautions to avoid exposing their pets.
A partnership to better control bacteria in food processing facilities
The presence of Listeria and Salmonella bacteria in food processing facilities poses several problems: pathogenic for humans, these bacteria are capable of persisting for a long time in the environment and resisting treatment with biocidal products. The Actia Fastypers Joint Technology Unit (UMT) was recently created by the French Ministry of Agriculture for a five-year period, in order to work on these issues. It brings together research teams (ANSES, INRAE) and agro-industrial technical institutes (Actalia, for the dairy sector, and the French Pork and Pig Institute (IFIP)).
Health risk assessment: ANSES renews ten of its expert groups
In order to assess health risks, ANSES relies on collective, independent expert appraisals, conducted by multidisciplinary groups of scientific experts that it coordinates. It is now issuing a call for applications to renew ten of these expert groups in the following fields: human food and nutrition, animal health and welfare, and plant health. Nominations for these groups, open to scientists from a wide variety of disciplines, must be submitted online in French until 31 March 2022.
Electronic cigarettes: which inhaled substances should be monitored as a priority?
Electronic cigarettes have been widely adopted by part of the population, yet the health risks potentially associated with the inhalation of the substances emitted by these devices have yet to be assessed in detail. ANSES has drawn up a list of substances to be studied as a priority in order to assess the risks associated with their inhalation.
A new role for ANSES in monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater
ANSES's Laboratory for Hydrology has been appointed National Reference Laboratory for the monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater and sewage sludge, by the Ministries of Health and Ecological Transition. Its responsibilities include harmonising the methods used to detect the virus and assessing the abilities of the laboratories tasked with carrying out the analyses.
Disorders on two cattle farms highly unlikely to be due to wind turbines
Farmers from two cattle farms located near a wind farm in Loire-Atlantique have reported various problems with their animals, including a reduction in milk yield and quality, behavioural problems, and an increase in mortality. ANSES stresses that these particular situations require support measures. However, it has concluded that the disorders encountered are most likely unrelated to the presence of the wind turbines. The Agency recommends establishing a suitable comprehensive diagnostic protocol, in order to be able to act promptly in the event of disorders occurring in other farms close to wind turbines.
Lack of physical activity and overly sedentary lifestyles: public health priorities
Ninety-five percent of the adult population in France is exposed to a risk of deteriorated health because they do not get enough exercise or spend too much time sitting. These risks are increased when lack of physical activity is combined with an overly sedentary lifestyle. Some population groups are more exposed than others. ANSES considers that promoting lifestyle behaviours that encourage exercise and combat physical inactivity should be a priority for the public authorities.
Following the removal from the Canadian market of certain FFP2 protective face masks containing graphene in April 2021, the French authorities suspended their distribution while ANSES assessed the health risks of wearing these masks. Due to a lack of data on the toxicity of graphene, the Agency now recommends giving priority to the marketing of graphene-free masks.
Surgical masks: health thresholds not exceeded for chemical contaminants
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, surgical masks have been used daily by millions of people. Based on the investigations conducted by the DGCCRF, ANSES assessed the health risks associated with the presence of chemicals in surgical masks. The results showed no cases where health thresholds were exceeded, when the recommended conditions of use were followed.