A new study by Public Health France reveals the presence of heavy metals in the body of the French, including children. The levels of impregnation exceed those observed in other European countries and in North America.
- Adults and children participating in the Public Health France survey all present heavy metals in their bodies.
- All contamination levels are increasing, except for nickel and mercury.
- Cadmium levels are particularly worrying because they exceed the value recommended by the National Health Security Agency (Anses) in more than half of adults.
Arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, mercury… All French people, including children, have heavy metals in their bodies, sometimes at worrying levels. This is what brings to light the Esteban study (health study on the environment, biomonitoring, physical activity and nutrition) carried out by Santé Publique France, the results of which were published on 1er July. The results indicate the presence of 27 heavy metals in the body of the French, at levels often higher than those observed in the rest of Europe and in North America.
An increasing concentration of heavy metals
The work was carried out between April 2014 and March 2016 on a large representative sample of the French population: 1,104 children and 2,503 adults aged 6 to 74. They are based on biological samples (urine, blood and hair) and a questionnaire on lifestyle or food habits. Their cross-analysis made it possible to quantify the presence of these metals in the population and to better understand the sources of exposure.
The results are worrying. They show that “all adult and child participants” are affected by this heavy metal contamination: between 97% and 100% detection depending on the substance. However, as Public Health France reminds us, these metals can be the cause of the appearance of chronic diseases (with bone, kidney, cardiovascular or even neurotoxic effects), immune deficiency or cancer.
While mercury and nickel levels are equivalent to those found in the ENNS study in 2006-2007, the concentration levels of other metals are increasing. This is particularly the case for arsenic, chromium and cadmium. For arsenic, mercury and lead, the levels even exceed the guide values established by the National Health Security Agency (Anses).
The risk of cadmium
One of the greatest risks comes from cadmium, Public Health alert France. Classified as carcinogenic for humans since 2012 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and toxic for reproduction according to European regulations, this heavy metal was found in nearly half of French adults at levels higher than those of the value recommended by ANSES.
Toxic for the kidneys, the skeleton, the respiratory system, cadmium is one of the main components of phosphate rocks, used in the manufacture of fertilizers. Agricultural products are also the main source of heavy metal contamination, along with food. Fish and seafood, in particular, are the main “influence of arsenic, cadmium, chromium and mercury concentrations”warns Public Health France, which recommends “vary species and fishing grounds”. In children, the main source of cadmium ingestion is the “consumption of cereals for breakfast”. In adults, tobacco caused “an increase of more than 50% of cadmium impregnation in smokers”, continues the study. Two other sources of contamination are also noted for other metals: dental fillings for mercury or medical implants for chromium.
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