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Sargasses
24/04/2017 —
News

Exposure to emissions from Sargassum seaweed washed up on the shore: ANSES reiterates its recommendations and adds to them

In 2015 ANSES was asked to conduct an expert assessment on gaseous fumes emitted by decaying Sargassum seaweed. In March 2016, the Agency recommended implementing measures to protect the general public and workers in charge of collecting, transporting and processing Sargassum seaweed, from exposure to the hydrogen sulfide (H2S) produced during its decay. An update of this assessment, including a revision of the toxicological profile of H2S and a summary of the ecology, accumulation, chemistry and decomposition of Sargassum seaweed, led the Agency to additionally recommend the immediate implementation of measures to prevent the risk of exposure to the heavy metals found in seaweed - arsenic and cadmium in particular - which could be hazardous to human health and to the environment.
Zoonoses
13/04/2017 —
News

Veterinary pharmacovigilance: ANSES facilitates on-line reporting of adverse effects

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) today launches a new version of its on-line declaration website for veterinary pharmacovigilance. This website was created to collect reports of adverse effects linked to, or potentially linked to, the use of veterinary medicinal products. It now offers new functions that make it easier to use, thus improving the detection of adverse effects.
Dioxyde Titane
12/04/2017 —
News

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles in food (additive E171): biological effects need to be confirmed

E171 is a food additive used as a colouring and made up of titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles, partially in nanometric form. A study published in January 2017 showed that chronic exposure of rats to E171 may cause precancerous colorectal lesions. ANSES received a request to assess whether this publication provided evidence to reconsider the conclusions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concerning the evaluation of E171 published in September 2016. In its conclusions, the Agency points out that although the results presented in this publication do not currently call into question EFSA’s assessment, the study does demonstrate effects that had not been identified so far, specifically potential promoting effects for carcinogenesis. As a result, the Agency highlights the need to conduct the studies required to fully characterise the potential health effects related to ingestion of the food additive E171, with a methodology and schedule to be defined.
11/04/2017 —
News

ANSES's proposed classification for granulated copper submitted for public consultation

ANSES has submitted a proposed classification for granulated copper to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in accordance with the European CLP Regulation (on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures). This proposal has been the subject of a public consultation on the ECHA website since 4 April 2017, in order to give all stakeholders an opportunity to present their positions, scientific arguments or any additional information they have at their disposal. Following this public consultation, which is to run for 45 days, a final opinion will be adopted by ECHA's Committee for Risk Assessment and sent to the European Commission to help it decide whether or not to include the classification proposed by ANSES in the CLP Regulation.
04/04/2017 —
News

Public consultation of ANSES's proposal for classification of diisooctyl phthalate as toxic for reproduction

ANSES has submitted a classification proposal for diisooctyl phthalate as toxic for reproduction, category 1B for fertility and development, to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). This proposal has been open for public consultation on the ECHA website since 14 March 2017, to give all stakeholders an opportunity to present their position, their scientific arguments, or any additional information they may have. Following this public consultation, which is open for 45 days, a final opinion will be adopted by the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) at the ECHA and forwarded to the European Commission for a decision on whether or not to include ANSES’s proposed classification in the CLP regulation.
04/04/2017 —
News

Public consultation of ANSES's proposal for classification of 2-methoxyethyl acrylate

ANSES has submitted a classification proposal for 2-methoxyethyl acrylate to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in line with the CLP regulation (classification, labelling and packaging of chemical substances). This proposal has been open for public consultation on the ECHA website since 14 March 2017, to give all stakeholders an opportunity to present their position, their scientific arguments, or any additional information they may have. Following this public consultation, which is open for 45 days, a final opinion will be adopted by the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) at the ECHA and forwarded to the European Commission for a decision on whether or not to include ANSES’s proposed classification in the CLP regulation.
03/04/2017 —
News

ANSES and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reinforce their partnership

During a visit on 17 March 2017 by a delegation from ANSES to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa, Dr. Primal Silva, the Acting Vice-President and Roger Genet, Director General of ANSES, signed a Memorandum of Understanding concerning scientific cooperation. Its objective is to strengthen cooperation between the two agencies in the many areas where they have common interests.
03/04/2017 —
News

Reinforcement of the partnership between ANSES and the US National Institute of Environnemental Health Sciences

On 22 March 2017, ANSES and the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) signed a ten-year Memorandum of Understanding. In doing so, the two organisations join forces to achieve a common goal: improved understanding and mitigation of the impact of the environment on human health.
Eoliens
30/03/2017 —
News

Exposure to low-frequency sound and infrasounds from wind farms: improving information for local residents and monitoring noise exposure

Today ANSES is publishing the results of its assessment of health effects related to low-frequency sounds (20 Hz to 200 Hz) and infrasounds (below 20 Hz) emitted by wind farms. The expert appraisal undertaken by the Agency made it possible, on the one hand, to measure and characterise, in a real-life situation, the infrasound emitted by wind farms, and on the other hand, to analyse the available data on the potential health effects related to exposure to infrasounds and low-frequency sounds. In its conclusions, the Agency underlines that the results of this expert appraisal provide no justification for changing the current exposure limit values or for extending the sound frequencies currently considered in the regulations to include infrasounds and low-frequency sounds. However, the Agency recommends providing enhanced information campaigns for local residents when constructing wind farms, supplementing our knowledge of exposure and undertaking further research into the relationship between health and exposure to infrasounds and low-frequency sounds. The Agency also recommends systematically measuring the noise emissions of wind turbines before and after they are brought into service and setting up continuous noise measurement systems around wind farms, based for example on current practices in the airport sector.

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