Environmental health

ANSES is proposing a harmonised classification for galaxolide, sometimes referred to as HHCB, as a Category 1B reproductive toxicant under the CLP Regulation (for Classification, Labelling and Packaging of products). This substance, which is widely used in everyday products such as perfumes, cosmetics and air fresheners, can cause damage to human fertility and development, according to the conclusions of ANSES’s expert appraisal work. Since 27 January 2025, the scientific dossier has been available for public consultation on the website of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), for comments or provision of additional information on this substance.

In order to better inform consumers about the health and environmental hazards of household products, ANSES is proposing to categorise these products in order to establish a labelling standard for them. This work is also aimed at encouraging manufacturers to improve the composition of their products.

After having shown that resorcinol affects thyroid function, with harmful effects, the Agency is putting forward a proposal to classify this substance as an endocrine disruptor for human health. This was made possible by the recent creation of this hazard class in the CLP Regulation (the European Regulation on classification, labelling and packaging). Since 20 January 2025, the scientific dossier has been available for public consultation on the website of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), for comments or provision of additional information on this substance.

Glyoxylic acid, a chemical used in hair-straightening products (also known as hair relaxers), can cause acute kidney failure: this was confirmed by ANSES after it examined the available scientific data on its toxicity. The Agency believes that a ruling is needed on restricting or even banning the use of this substance in hair care products. Pending regulatory measures, it recommends avoiding the use of hair-straightening products containing glyoxylic acid. It also urges the companies marketing hair care products containing this substance to re-examine their safety.

ANSES has published the list of research projects selected following the call for proposals of the National Research Programme for Environmental and Occupational Health, issued in late 2023. The projects will receive a total of €7.78 million in funding. This research seeks to provide new knowledge on environmental risks to human health in the general or occupational populations, as well as on risks to ecosystems.

ANSES's Nancy Laboratory for Hydrology celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. The safety of water is embedded in its DNA. Under the impact of climate change and new lifestyle patterns, this issue has become a major concern for society. Sophie Lardy-Fontan, its director, presents the laboratory.

The European Commission intends to revise the recommendations on safety and efficacy claims for sunscreen products it issued to industry in 2006. Its aim is to provide consumers with better guidance when choosing and using these products. ANSES has produced an opinion in support of this revision that calls for the recommendation to be made clearer and more restrictive, in order to provide better protection for users of sunscreen products.

The metabolic activity of cells could be used to determine the concentration above which a substance is toxic. A study conducted by ANSES scientists has explored this innovative approach, which could identify the concentration above which a substance poses a risk to human health based on in vitro test results.

Since ANSES's last general expert appraisal on the health effects of exposure to radiofrequencies in 2013, new data have been published in numerous scientific studies. The Agency therefore undertook a revision of its expert appraisal on the carcinogenic risk from exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. To do this, it applied an international reference method for assessing the weight of evidence to the new data. It is now submitting the corresponding draft expert appraisal report for public consultation, in order to collect any scientific comments that need to be taken into account when drafting the final version of the report. This public consultation began on 30 September 2024. The deadline, initially scheduled for 30 October, has been extended to 25 November 2024.