ANSES & Inserm scientific conference

The exposome concept arose from the need to gain a better understanding of the health impact of the various exposures of an individual over a lifetime, taking into account environmental exposure to chemical, physical and biological agents on the one hand and socio-economic factors on the other. Today, one of the aims of research is to characterise the various facets of the exposome and its impact on the occurrence of human diseases, especially chronic diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and endocrine disorders, and study potential interactions between the components of the exposome and between the exposome and biological parameters. The ultimate goal will be to estimate the overall health impact of the exposome and if possible, classify the roles of various risk factors.

This need is currently recognised by scientists and society and is gradually being incorporated into public policies. Better understanding the exposome is one of the objectives of the fourth edition of the National Environmental Health Action Plan, and the concept has been written into the French Public Health Code. However, questions are still being raised regarding the tools to be promoted and the methodological approaches to be implemented to ensure that the exposome takes its rightful place in the various spheres of public health expertise and ultimately in the field of risk management.

To review the current state of research on this topic, ANSES and Inserm are organising a scientific conference on “Exposome and public health: from research to expertise” on 30 November 2021 at Espace du Centenaire – Maison de la RATP, Paris 75012.

On the programme:

• an overview of the exposome concept and how it is being used for purposes of research and environmental health risk assessments;
• a review of the research work undertaken by Inserm or financed by the National Research Programme for Environmental and Occupational Health, along with a summary of the research projects implemented by large European consortia.

The four sessions will address the following topics:

• characterisation and description of the exposome;

• the social exposome;

• single exposure to mixtures and interactions;

• exposome and disease burden.

The day will conclude with a summary round-table discussion. 

Open to all, this event is aimed more particularly at the scientific community, associations, professionals and decision-makers interested in the exposome.

For people who are interested, this event will be live-streamed so it can be attended remotely. Information to this end will be sent out shortly.