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<BR>Assessment of the health risk of chlordecone and other pesticide residues for the population of the French West Indies<BR><BR><BR>Chlordecone used to be used in the banana plantations of Martinique and Guadeloupe to combat weevils. This highly persistent and bioaccumulative pesticide has been banned since 1993. The plots now identified as polluted were originally used for banana growing and have now been given over to subsistence farming. As a result of its persistence, chlordecone is still present in the soil and can be found in certain plant and animal-based foodstuffs, as well as in water at certain catchment areas.<BR><BR>Since it was founded, the Agency has been involved in assessing the health risk posed by chlordecone for the French West Indian population. It has therefore defined toxicological reference values for humans and estimated the dietary exposure of the French West Indian population after carrying out surveys and studies of local eating habits as well as on food contamination levels. On the basis of these studies and the available scientific data, the Agency has laid down the maximum tolerable contamination limits for the foodstuffs that contribute most to human exposure and drafted recommendations for home consumption. These suggestions have helped reduce the dietary exposure of the West Indian population to chlordecone. In order to complete its assessment, the Agency undertook a field survey on the diets of infants and young children in Guadeloupe, in the context of the "TIMOUN" cohort study conducted by INSERM. As compared to other age groups, the results of the survey showed no dietary overexposure to chlordecone.<BR><BR>As the National Reference Laboratory for organochlorine pesticides, the Agency has developed methods for analysing chlordecone in animal and plant-based foodstuffs. It monitors the performance of the network of official laboratories involved in the analysis of chlordecone in foodstuffs of animal origin, with the organisation of inter-laboratory testing. It assists the laboratory in Martinique in acquiring skills for the measurement of chlordecone.<BR><BR>The Agency is also measuring the dietary exposure of the French West Indian population to residues of pesticides other than chlordecone. In the context of the "Sapotille" study (2008-2010), food samples collected in the French West Indies are currently being screened for some 60 pesticides. The results will make it possible to characterise the risk associated with dietary exposure to pesticide residues for the whole of the French West Indies, for the first time.<BR><BR><BR><BR>September 2011<BR><BR>Opinions and/or reports related to this topic (mainly in french) :<BR>Find out more...<BR><BR>Human food<BR>Home,Anses,News,Press room,Agenda,Our topics,Food,Animal health and nutrition,Environmental health,Occupational health,Plants,Opinions and publications,Last opinions and reports,Food opinions and reports,Animal health and nutrition opinions and reports,Environmental and occupational health opinions and reports,Plants opinions,Opinions and reports in English,Bulletins and periodicals,Other publications,Subscribe to Anses newsletter,Research and reference,Research program,Laboratories and reference activities, + ,Job opportunities,Public procurement contracts,Our websites,Partners,Extranet / ExpertNet,Kid's area,Legal notice,Contact, ,<A HREF='PNR5I0.htm'>Anses</A>
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Assessment of the health risk of chlordecone and other pesticide residues for the population of the French West Indies
Chlordecone used to be used in the banana plantations of Martinique and Guadeloupe to combat weevils. This highly persistent and bioaccumulative pesticide has been banned since 1993. The plots now identified as polluted were originally used for banana growing and have now been given over to subsistence farming. As a result of its persistence, chlordecone is still present in the soil and can be found in certain plant and animal-based foodstuffs, as well as in water at certain catchment areas.
Since it was founded, the Agency has been involved in assessing the health risk posed by chlordecone for the French West Indian population. It has therefore defined toxicological reference values for humans and estimated the dietary exposure of the French West Indian population after carrying out surveys and studies of local eating habits as well as on food contamination levels. On the basis of these studies and the available scientific data, the Agency has laid down the maximum tolerable contamination limits for the foodstuffs that contribute most to human exposure and drafted recommendations for home consumption. These suggestions have helped reduce the dietary exposure of the West Indian population to chlordecone. In order to complete its assessment, the Agency undertook a field survey on the diets of infants and young children in Guadeloupe, in the context of the "TIMOUN" cohort study conducted by INSERM. As compared to other age groups, the results of the survey showed no dietary overexposure to chlordecone.
As the National Reference Laboratory for organochlorine pesticides, the Agency has developed methods for analysing chlordecone in animal and plant-based foodstuffs. It monitors the performance of the network of official laboratories involved in the analysis of chlordecone in foodstuffs of animal origin, with the organisation of inter-laboratory testing. It assists the laboratory in Martinique in acquiring skills for the measurement of chlordecone.
The Agency is also measuring the dietary exposure of the French West Indian population to residues of pesticides other than chlordecone. In the context of the "Sapotille" study (2008-2010), food samples collected in the French West Indies are currently being screened for some 60 pesticides. The results will make it possible to characterise the risk associated with dietary exposure to pesticide residues for the whole of the French West Indies, for the first time.
September 2011
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