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Today, ANSES is publishing the results of its expert appraisal on ambient air particulate matter. Based on a systematic review of the scientific literature, ANSES confirms, with high levels of evidence, the health effects associated with a number of components of ambient air particulate matter, including ultrafine particles, black carbon and organic carbon. These health effects include respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and premature death. The Agency recommends that these three particulate indicators be tracked as a priority in public policies to address air pollution. ANSES also confirms, with high levels of evidence, the health effects associated with exposure to emissions from various sources – particularly road traffic and the burning of coal, petroleum products and biomass – and stresses the need for taking action on these sources of emission. Moreover, given the scarcity of data, ANSES recommends continuing research efforts on the health effects associated with other sources of particulate matter such as farming, maritime transport and airport activity. With regard to pollutant emissions from road traffic, the Agency concludes that advances in automotive technology will lead to reductions in ambient air pollution, the extent of which will vary according to the scenarios studied, but it warns that these will be insufficient on their own to improve ambient air quality in population centres. ANSES therefore recommends that policy action to improve air quality should focus on promoting alternative technologies, and especially on reducing traffic, through the reinforcement of other forms of transport in particular.

Huanglongbing disease is one of the most significant threats to citrus crops in the world today. While it affects many producing countries, particularly in South-East Asia, America and Africa, the Mediterranean region is one of the only regions still free of the disease. ANSES has carried out a risk analysis for the European Union area and concludes that there is a high risk if the bacteria responsible for the disease were to be introduced. To date, there are no effective measures for eradicating the disease once it has appeared. The Agency therefore reiterates the importance of ensuring strict compliance with plant import regulations to prevent the introduction and spread of the disease. It also recommends that surveillance be stepped up to enable rapid detection of any possible outbreak, and that measures be developed – in particular biological control – to counter insect vectors or the use of resistant plant varieties.