An update from ANSES and ADEME on scientific advances to improve air quality
On 17 October 2019, ANSES and ADEME are organising a day of scientific meetings devoted to the topic of air quality. This is a major public health issue, whether it concerns indoor or outdoor air. In order to preserve and improve air quality, we need to characterise the sources of contaminants in air and the associated exposure, and gain a better understanding of their health effects. This symposium will provide a broad overview of the recent scientific advances in this field and offer examples of practical solutions for tackling the issue of air quality.
The air we breathe carries chemical, physical or biological contaminants that can affect our health. Whether associated with human activity (transport, industry, waste management, agricultural practices, heating, domestic activities) or natural phenomena (desert sand, forest fires, volcanic eruptions), these contaminants can cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. More recently, effects on the brain and reproduction have also been identified.
Research on this subject is essential, as it generates the new scientific knowledge needed to assess the impact on health and to support measures to improve air quality and public health. ANSES and ADEME, two agencies involved in assessing air quality, decided to organise this scientific symposium together to present the progress in this field through the research projects they fund.
This day will provide a broad overview of the most topical issues and illustrate the many aspects of research generated by the issue of air pollution. Work on the characterisation of pollutant sources and human exposure will be presented, along with studies on the health effects and societal impact. The symposium will also address the question of what solutions research can offer, with examples of the measures taken by stakeholders to combat air pollution.
Presentations will also include the results of a study funded by ADEME, which reviews the knowledge gained from experimental studies of sources of fine particulate matter in France, as well as ANSES's expert appraisal on the health effects of ambient air particulate matter and the impact of road traffic.
This day of scientific meetings testifies to the complementarity of the two agencies' work, sharing the same goal of encouraging dynamic research and a productive dialogue within the national scientific community on the issue of air quality, by inviting participation from the various players in society, in order to examine the research results in the context of the needs of public- and private-sector action.
ANSES has a central role in assessing health risks in order to inform public policy in the areas of food, the environment, work, animal health and welfare, and plant health. Air quality is a major concern for the Agency, which carries out various expert appraisals to assess its impact on health. ANSES also supports research and runs the National Research Programme on Environmental and Occupational Health (PNR EST), in order to acquire the knowledge with which to support public policy-making and health risk assessment work. The topic of air has been a feature of this research programme since its creation in 2006.
ADEME is active in the implementation of public policy in the areas of the environment, energy and sustainable development. It provides expertise and advisory services to businesses, local authorities and communities, government bodies and the public at large, to enable them to establish and consolidate their environmental action. In the field of air quality, the Agency's actions mainly aim to improve understanding of the determinants of air pollution, develop decision-support tools and new solutions (technical, organisational, etc.), and support experimentation and assessment of measures to promote air quality, taking into account the socio-economic context and the need for integrated actions.
ANSES Scientific Conferences
"Research on air quality: sources, health effects and outlook"
Wednesday 17 October 2019
Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris
Espace Adenauer
17 bd Jourdan 75014 Paris