Arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, mercury… Through its ESTEBAN study, Public Health France analyzed the presence of 27 heavy metals in the body of French adults, and for the first time nationally in children .

"This new photograph of the impregnations emphasizes that the entire population is concerned" with "more than 97% to 100% detection" in adult and child participants, indicates the report published Thursday, July 1.

The study shows that the levels measured for both children and adults in France were "higher than those found in most foreign countries" in Europe and North America except for nickel and copper.

In adults, the levels measured in urinary mercury and nickel were the same compared to those measured in the ENNS study (National Health Nutrition Study) in 2006-2007, which however at the time noted lower levels of arsenic, cadmium and chromium.

Tobacco and fish among the main factors

Naturally present in the environment, metals can be at the origin of the appearance of chronic diseases, immune deficiency or even cancer.

Identifying the sources of exposure and the levels of impregnation of the population makes it possible to prevent the appearance of such pathologies, specifies the study.

Food remains one of the main sources of exposure and the Esteban study shows that the consumption of fish and seafood influences the concentrations of arsenic, chromium, cadmium and mercury.

Public Health France recommends diversifying the sources of food and consuming “fish twice a week including fatty fish, varying the species and the fishing grounds”.

Consumption of cereals also increases the concentration of cadmium.

The consumption of cereals and vegetables from organic farming influences the copper concentration.

Finally, the consumption of tobacco, even passive, increases the concentrations of cadmium and copper.

"In adults, tobacco would cause an increase of more than 50% of impregnation in smokers," says the report.

In addition, medical implants have an impact on the presence of chromium and fillings, on that of urinary mercury.

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The work was carried out on a representative sample of the general population made up of 1,104 children and 2,503 adults aged 6 to 74 years.

This study includes biological samples (urine, blood and hair) and the administration of a questionnaire on lifestyle, food consumption, characteristics of participants.

  • Nutrition

  • Food

  • Mercury

  • Fish

  • Tobacco

  • Health

  • Contamination

  • Society

  • Food