2024-10-20 22:00:00
Residents of industrial basins are exposed to various environmental nuisances: chemical substances, noise, olfactory or visual pollution. Studying and monitoring the health impact of these nuisances is a major public health issue, in order to implement and adapt, where necessary, management and prevention measures to protect the health of residents living in such areas. However, the impacts of these industrial areas on the health of local residents are still largely unknown today.
Public Health France therefore proposed the implementation of a study aimed at better understanding the impacts of industrial basins on health. This study has a national scope and is based primarily on the identification and grouping of industrial basins, based on common characteristics. Subsequently, the data concerning the characteristics of the basins thus grouped will be cross-referenced with the health data of the residents of these basins recorded in the medical-administrative databases. This approach allows us to have data representative of the territory and the French population.
The report published today aims to describe the industrial basins identified in France. The method for identifying industrial basins is presented, as well as the main characteristics of each basin (type of industries, activities and discharges from ICPE – Installations Classified for Environmental Protection) and the databases used.
What is the context and main objectives of the multicenter study on large industrial areas carried out by Public Health France?ShowHide
Public Health France, as part of its population health surveillance missions, has been contacted several times at the local level. But by only working on a single industrial site (or zone) each time, the studies come up against a lack of statistical power, that is to say that the numbers of populations living near such zones are not large enough. to be able to produce robust epidemiological results and study the impact of exposure of a population to an industrial site or zone.
To overcome this difficulty, Public Health France will propose for the first time, the implementation, on a national scale, of a multicenter ecological study around industrial basins. This national multicenter study aims, to have more statistical power, to consider several industrial basins distributed over the territory but with common characteristics in terms of substances released or polluting activities.
At the same time, several health indicators for populations bordering these basins will be defined and researched in existing health databases (medical-administrative bases such as healthcare reimbursements, hospital stays).
By combining the environmental data collected and the health data available on the same geographical scale, Public Health France wishes to be able to study, for the first time in France, the national health impact of industrial basins and subsequently implement a surveillance system multicenter health system by repeating this national study.
The implementation of this multicenter national ecological study requires preliminary steps including the description of the data available at the environmental level.
What is the objective of this publication and what are the main results?ShowHide
This report describes the industrial basins identified by Public Health France using available economic, industrial and environmental data (declared economic activities, regulatory information available for installations classified for environmental protection (ICPE) and discharge data notified in the Register of polluting emissions IREP).
This work made it possible to describe 52 identified industrial basins in France, including overseas territories, which constitute areas of high industrial density with varied activities and substances released. They represent 8% of ICPEs requiring authorization or registration in France in 2016 and are therefore not representative of all industrial activity in France which remains dispersed.
The majority of the 52 industrial basins identified are located in urban or peri-urban areas, a few are in a more rural area. The basins located around very large cities have large numbers of ICPEs in overlapping mixed territories (industrial and residential). Ultimately, the manufacturing industry represents in these basins a little more than a third of industrial activities, via activities relating to chemistry, metallurgy or the agri-food industry. Waste collection and sorting activities are also present in all of the large identified basins.
While there is a very wide variety of activities within each basin, for some, one activity may predominate. This work is essential to properly define the data currently available to characterize the environment of industrial basins.
What are the next steps?ShowHide
The next step consists of the definition of a typology of basins, that is to say the search for homogeneity criteria linked to the environmental characteristics of the basins (such as activities, discharges, etc.) making it possible to group, in wherever possible, basins with common characteristics. The objective will then be to identify specific health indicators to study with regard to exposure to these groups of basins.
A study protocol is planned for publication at the end of 2025. The multicenter ecological epidemiological study will be initiated in 2026. At the end of the study, it will be possible to respond to the relevance of continuing surveillance. and to define more precisely the implementation modalities.
Is Public Health France conducting other studies on the subject of industrial basins?ShowHide
Alongside this national study, other studies may be carried out locally by Public Health France at the request of the authorities around the industrial basins of Lacq, Florange or Thann (as part of the Esspol study) whose objectives and the methodology followed differs. Indeed, these studies directly question populations, in order to collect individual health data on symptoms or pathologies which are not necessarily recorded in a medico-administrative database.
Public Health France, in parallel with the conduct of this multicenter study, was the winner of the first joint call for projects from Green Data For Health (GD4H) and the Health Data Hub (HDH) on the crossing of environmental and health data. In this context, a study called Industrial Basins and Health (BIS) will be carried out, in partnership with the National Institute of Industrial Environment and Risks (Ineris) around large industrial basins defined by a high density of ICPE with a status falling under the IED (European Industrial Emissions Directive) or Seveso directives. Several health indicators will be studied: childhood asthma, all-cause mortality, incidence of obstructive airway diseases (adults), as well as two perinatal indicators (prematurity and low weight for gestational age).
The first results will be available from the 2nd quarter of 2025. The BIS study will also provide elements and refine the methodology which will be applied for continued work on all French industrial basins.
Map of industrial basins in France in 2024
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**Interview with Dr. Sophie Martin, Lead Researcher at Public Health France**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us, Dr. Martin. Can you provide an overview of the recent study initiated by Public Health France regarding industrial basins?
**Dr. Martin:** Thank you for having me. Our study aims to assess the health impacts of industrial basins in France—areas with high industrial activity that expose residents to various environmental nuisances like chemical substances, noise, and other forms of pollution. By grouping these basins based on common characteristics, we can better analyze their potential health effects on nearby populations.
**Editor:** What prompted Public Health France to undertake this multicenter study, especially on a national scale?
**Dr. Martin:** Historically, studies focused on individual industrial sites have struggled due to limited statistical power, primarily because of small population sizes in those areas. By expanding our approach to a national multicenter ecological study, we can improve our statistical power by incorporating multiple basins that share environmental traits and pollutants. This will ultimately enhance the robustness of our epidemiological findings.
**Editor:** Your report mentions identifying 52 industrial basins across France. Can you elaborate on these findings?
**Dr. Martin:** Certainly. Our research revealed 52 industrial basins with varied activities and emissions. Notably, these represent about 8% of the installations classified for environmental protection in France. The majority are located in urban or peri-urban areas, where industrial and residential zones overlap significantly. These basins engage in diverse activities, including chemistry, metallurgy, and agri-food production, as well as waste management.
**Editor:** What are the next steps after this initial report?
**Dr. Martin:** Our immediate next step is to develop a typology for these basins based on environmental characteristics. This classification will help us identify relevant health indicators for further investigation. We plan to publish a detailed study protocol by the end of 2025 and initiate the multicenter study in 2026, which will allow us to make evidence-based recommendations regarding public health surveillance in these areas.
**Editor:** Lastly, are there any additional studies on the subject being conducted by Public Health France?
**Dr. Martin:** Yes, we are committed to a thorough investigation of environmental health issues. While this study offers a comprehensive approach to industrial basins, we continuously explore related projects that assess various environmental impacts on public health. Our goal is to provide actionable insights for protecting the health of residents living near industrial areas.
**Editor:** Thank you, Dr. Martin, for sharing these important insights with us today.
**Dr. Martin:** Thank you for having me. It’s crucial to engage the public in these discussions, as the findings can directly impact health policies and community well-being.
Management. Understanding the specifics of these basins is essential as it allows us to characterize the environmental threats more accurately.
**Editor:** What steps are planned next in this ongoing study?
**Dr. Martin:** We are currently in the process of defining a typology for these basins. This involves establishing criteria for grouping them based on environmental characteristics, such as the types of industrial activities and pollutants released. Following this classification, we will identify specific health indicators that we can study relative to exposure to these grouped basins. We anticipate publishing a detailed study protocol by the end of 2025, with the multicenter ecological study set to begin in 2026.
**Editor:** How will this study impact public health policies in industrial areas?
**Dr. Martin:** This comprehensive approach will provide invaluable insights into the health impacts of living near industrial basins. By linking environmental data with health outcomes, we can better inform public health policies and develop targeted management strategies to mitigate these risks. Our goal is to establish a reliable surveillance system that not only addresses current concerns but also sets a precedent for future monitoring and research.
**Editor:** are there any other studies related to this initiative that Public Health France is conducting?
**Dr. Martin:** Yes, apart from the national study, we are also undertaking localized research in specific areas like Lacq, Florange, and Thann. These studies will gather individual health data directly from residents, allowing us to assess symptoms or conditions that may not be captured in conventional health databases. Furthermore, there’s an ongoing project called Industrial Basins and Health (BIS) that will explore health indicators associated with high-density industrial zones. We expect initial results from BIS to be available by the second quarter of 2025.
**Editor:** Thank you for your insights, Dr. Martin. We look forward to the findings from your important work.
**Dr. Martin:** Thank you for having me. We are optimistic that our study will contribute to a better understanding of public health in industrial contexts.