To understand the effects of pollution on healthcare, we need to take into account the physico-chemical characteristics of pollutants, their toxicological effects, as well as epidemiological and environmental data. Many contaminants are known for their oxidative, inflammatory, apoptotic or genotoxic effects. However, the actual health impact and molecular and cellular mechanisms of toxicity of these pollutants remain poorly understood.

Today, questions about environmental pollutants go far beyond the measurement of concentrations, since the notion of the effects of contaminants has become central. In this way, our team's research theme responds to developing societal concerns. These questions concern citizens, institutions (ministries, local authorities, agencies such as ANSES, ADEME, etc.) and companies.

It is now recognized that air pollution has dramatic effects on human health, and constitutes a major problem for the international community. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that, in 2012, ambient air pollution was responsible for almost 7 million deaths worldwide, or more than 10% of deaths from all causes, and could be considered the greatest environmental risk to health. In France, air pollution is responsible for 48,000 deaths a year, making it the third leading cause of death, behind tobacco (78,000 deaths a year) and alcohol (49,000 deaths).

The impact of exposure to airborne contaminants remains high, due to the size of the populations living in urban areas heavily influenced by emissions from traffic, residential, tertiary and industrial sources. Chronic exposure over many years reduces life expectancy, mainly due to an increased risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and lung cancer. Air pollution is responsible for around 9% of lung cancer deaths worldwide, 17% of COPD cases, over 30% of ischemic heart disease and 9% of respiratory infections. Short-term exposure can also have health consequences, particularly for the most vulnerable, by aggravating certain respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and triggering asthma attacks and premature death. Classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, there is also emerging evidence of possible links with diabetes, obesity, cognitive decline, dementia and various pregnancy complications.