An innovative analytical approach for a comprehensive overview of internal exposure to pesticides

Plant protection products used in agriculture contain molecules specifically designed to be toxic to target organisms. However, their use can also have unintended effects, posing potential risks to ecosystems and non-target organisms, including humans. Research has deepened our understanding of the links between exposure to these substances and the effects observed in the environment. In particular, studies have highlighted how even low levels of exposure can cause chronic effects on non-target organisms and disrupt ecosystems. These findings underscore the importance of quantifying and characterising these exposures in order to better assess their potential impacts on human health and the environment.International audienceHuman exposure to contaminants, including pesticides, is generally estimated using indirect methods. Conventional biomonitoring methods remain focused on a limited number of known substances, leaving the risks associated with multiple exposures currently underexplored.We propose an innovative approach to detect as many pesticide exposure markers as possible in an untargeted manner by combining three complementary mass spectrometry platforms coupled with chromatography. This approach, based on the exposome concept (Wild, David), allows us to produce exposure data on a wide range of pesticides and metabolites by screening a broad panel of exposure markers. The results demonstrate the added value of this approach, applied to two epidemiological studies (PELAGIE and Nutrinet-Santé), to test for associations with health parameters.</p

De nouveaux alliés du bien-être des animaux confrontés aux défis des transitions agroécologiques et climatiques

National audienc

Mapping the Human Chemical Exposome for Public Health

International audienceExcitons in the weakly interacting regime can be well-described by many-body perturbation theo-ries such as the Bethe-Salpeter equation formalism. However, for materials such as transition metaldichalcogenides moir´e heterostructures under strong illumination, with the emergence of dense ex-citonic states, the strong correlation and entanglement between electrons and holes may cause themany-body perturbation method to fail, and excitons may not be treated in the bosonic picture,but exhibit fermionic behaviors. In our work, we investigate the phase space where excitons, andthe electrons and holes which constitute them, are weakly or strongly entangled, as well as theirbinding for different interaction profiles and the degree of localization of the electrons and holes. Wecorroborate the validity of using many-body perturbation theory in the exciton with interactions.Our work provides a general way to analyze the correlation and entanglement of multi-particle ex-citations in many-body systems, and gives a more comprehensive understanding of different phasesfor exciton entanglement and interactions in 1D systems

Cutaneous and subcutaneous nodular scedosporiosis in a cat

International audienceThis article reports the clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects of a rare case of cutaneous and subcutaneous scedosporiosis in a 16-year-old domestic cat. The animal presented with a painful, ulcerated nodule at the base of the tail. Histopathology and fungal culture confirmed a pyogranulomatous dermatitis with hyaline hyphae, and molecular analysis identified Scedosporium sphaerospermum, a soil-dwelling fungus newly described. Despite targeted antifungal treatment with itraconazole and topical ciclopirox olamine, the cat developed systemic complications and died. This case emphasizes the challenges associated with diagnosing and managing opportunistic fungal infections in companion animals. It is, to the authors’ knowledge, the first case of infection caused by S. sphaerospermum

Reducing packaging waste in care units: a national survey

International audienceObjectives: Ecological transition has become an increasing concern among healthcare professionals, prompting interest in pro-environmental practices. This study aimed to provide evidence-based recommendations to guide healthcare professionals in selecting between single- and double-packaged sterile medical devices (SMD) based on their perceptions and practices.Methods: A survey was co-constructed by the French Pharmaceutical Society of Medical Devices (SPFDM), the French Society for Sterilisation Sciences (SF2S), the French Society for Hospital Hygiene (SF2H), and the National Association of State-Certified Operating Room Nurses (UNAIBODE). The questionnaire was distributed electronically to healthcare professionals working in operating theatres across France.Results: A total of 130 respondents completed the survey, including 72 operating room and registered nurses (55.5%), 30 pharmacists (23%), 20 managers (15.5%) and eight others (6%). Most participants worked in public health establishments (80.8%) with established waste sorting systems (83.1%), mainly for paper/cardboard, metal and plastic. Daily use of single-pack SMD was reported by 61.5% of respondents, although only 11.3% applied this to implantable MD. Packaging was considered an environmental criterion by 71.5% of participants, mainly based on the number of packages. Safety concerns were prevalent, with 66.9% indicating that single packaging alone was insufficient for SMD. A majority (70.8%) supported transitioning to single-pack MD where appropriate, whereas the trend reversed for implantable SMD, with 60.0% opposing single packaging. Most respondents (75.4%) favoured wider availability of dematerialised records, and 97% supported a pictogram indicating recyclability of SMD packaging.Conclusion: This national survey provides valuable insights into SMD packaging practices in French operating theatres. While safety remains the primary concern-particularly for implantable SMD-there is strong environmental awareness and willingness to adapt practices when clinical safety is not compromised. Based on these findings, professional societies plan to develop recommendations promoting single-pack SMD where clinically appropriate, while maintaining double packaging for high-risk implantable SMD

Towards approaches that respect human health and ecosystems in agricultural practices

Plant protection products used in agriculture contain molecules specifically designed to be toxic to target organisms. However, their use can also have unintended effects, posing potential risks to ecosystems and non-target organisms, including humans. Research has deepened our understanding of the links between exposure to these substances and the effects observed in the environment. In particular, studies have highlighted how even low levels of exposure can cause chronic effects on non-target organisms and disrupt ecosystems. These findings underscore the importance of quantifying and characterising these exposures in order to better assess their potential impacts on human health and the environment.International audienceThe roundtable discussion held on 6 February 2025 at ONIRIS in Nantes, co-organised by “Carrefours de l’Innovation INRAE” and “ECOPHYTO recherche &amp; innovation”, revisited and expanded upon the presentation of the effects of plant protection products (PPPs) on human health and ecosystems. PPPs, designed to target pests and diseases, also affect non-target organisms, leading to human illnesses (cancers, neurological and respiratory diseases) and ecological imbalances. Robust research, including an INSERM report, has established the strength of the links between exposure to PPPs and various pathologies, particularly among agricultural workers, but also among children exposed in utero. On the environmental front, an INRAE-Ifremer study highlights widespread contamination, with serious impacts on biodiversity (bees, birds, invertebrates) and even the marine environment. The concept of “symbiotoxicity” underscores the disruption of organisms’ microbiomes, exacerbating their vulnerability. Research still lacks data on PPP degradation products and their combined effects (“cocktail effects”). Training programmes such as the One Health Master’s degree aim to prepare professionals capable of addressing these challenges in a systemic way. Since 2020, a compensation fund has been supporting PPP victims, including children exposed before birth. Specialised paediatric consultations are emerging to provide better support for families. Taken together, this body of work clearly calls for a rapid and widespread agroecological transition, implying far-reaching changes in farming practices. However, current policy orientations appear to favour a gradual approach, based on pragmatic actions that can be implemented without disrupting the foundations of the existing agricultural model

Impact de polluants environnementaux (PFAS et PCBs) présents dans le lait maternel sur le sommeil du nourrisson à 1 mois de vie : résultats préliminaires

International audienceObjectifDurant les premiers mois de vie, le sommeil du nourrisson évolue rapidement et joue un rôle clé dans son développement neurologique. Cette période de maturation constitue également une fenêtre de vulnérabilité face aux expositions environnementales. Les polluants organiques persistants(POPs), tels que les polychlorobiphényles(PCBs) et les substances per-etpolyfluoroalkylées(PFAS) sont retrouvés dans le lait maternel et, peuvent ainsi être transmis au nourrisson allaité. Notre étude explore l’association entre les concentrations de PCBs et de PFAS dans le lait maternel et les paramètres du sommeil du nourrisson à un mois de vie.MéthodesQuarante-neuf nourrissons allaités (24,9 ± 3,64 jours) ont été suivis à domicile pendant 7 jours. Le sommeil a été enregistré par actimétrie (MotionWatch8) positionné à la cheville. Lors de ce suivi, un échantillon de lait maternel a été prélevé pour en déterminer la concentration en différents congénères des PCBs(n = 14) et PFAS(n = 31). Les résultats de quantification obtenus ont été sommés en quantités totales présentes dans l’échantillon et classés en trois groupes : PFAS, PCBs dioxin-like (DL) et non-dioxin-like (NDL). L’association entre les concentrations de polluants et plusieurs paramètres du sommeil (durée totale sur 24 h, moyenne sur sept jours, nombre d’épisodes) a été évaluée par modèles linéaires mixtes et linéaires simples.RésultatsUn sous-échantillon de 18 laits maternels a été analysé, montrant une variabilité individuelle notable. Les concentrations moyennes de PCBs-DL et PCBs-NDL sont respectivement de 7132 pg/g de matière grasse et 34,5 ng/g de matière grasse. Les congénères les plus représentés sont les PCBs 118, 105, 156 (DL) et PCBs 153, 138, 180 (NDL). Pour les PFAS : PFBS et PFHxA ne sont pas détectables, tandis que le PFOS est mesuré à 0,0212 ng/mL de lait maternel et le PFOA à 0,0097 ng/mL de lait maternel. Les modèles linéaires mixtes et simples n’ont montré aucune association significative entre les concentrations de polluants et les paramètres du sommeil.ConclusionÀ ce stade de notre étude, aucune association significative n’a été observée entre les concentrations de PFAS ou de PCBs dans le lait maternel et les paramètres du sommeil à un mois de vie. Ces résultats devront être confirmer avec l’ensemble des échantillons analysés afin d’en augmenter la puissance statistique

EHV1 neurologic outbreaks

International audienc

Mammalian mesenchymal stromal cells enhance zebrafish fin regeneration

International audienceMesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) possess well-described immunoregulatory properties, yet their capacity to drive regeneration in vertebrates is still debated and their mechanisms of action remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, we used zebrafish larvae, a highly regenerative vertebrate model to study the effects of MSC delivery on caudal fin fold regeneration and monitored macrophage dynamics through live imaging in fluorescent reporter lines. We found that MSCs enhanced fin regeneration by increasing the early recruitment of inflammatory (tnfa +) macrophages at 1-day-post-amputation (dpA), and accelerating resolution between 2 and 3 dpA. Given the established role of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in MSC-mediated immunoregulation, we examined its contribution using indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor that suppresses PGE2 production in grafted MSCs. We observed that PGE2 inhibition abolished the pro-regenerative effect of MSCs and maintained elevated tnfa + macrophage levels. PGE2-inhibited MSCs were more susceptible to phagocytosis by both zebrafish and mammalian macrophages, while maintaining viability, indicating a loss of PGE2-mediated protection in treated cells. Together, these findings demonstrate that MSC-derived PGE2 is essential for MSC regenerative function by promoting MSC persistence and modulating macrophage behavior, highlight the zebrafish as a powerful in vivo platform to dissect stem cell-immune interactions and optimize MSCbased regenerative strategies

Solvothermal Liquefaction of Sargassum: Optimization via Response Surface Methodology

International audienceInvasive Sargassum fluitans and Sargassum natans accumulate along the coasts of Martinique, causing ecological, health, and economic challenges. Efficient valorization of this biomass is therefore required. This study investigates the potential of solvothermal liquefaction for energy recovery from these Sargassum species through bio-oil production. Experiments were conducted in a batch autoclave reactor using a 50:50 (v/v) water-ethanol co-solvent system under autogenous pressure (43–160 bar at reaction temperature). A Central Composite Design was applied to evaluate the effects of reaction time (15–45 min), reaction temperature (260–300 °C), and solvent-to-biomass ratio (4:1–9:1) on product yields and to determine the optimal operating conditions for maximizing bio-oil yield. The results showed that the solvent-to-biomass ratio was the most influential parameter, followed by reaction temperature, while reaction time had a negligible effect. The experimental data were in good agreement with model predictions (R² = 0.8738), confirming the reliability of the model. A maximum bio-oil yield of 44.62 wt% was achieved at 295 °C, 19 min, and a solvent-to-biomass ratio of 9:1. The higher heating value of the resulting bio-oil (6.55 MJ/kg) was lower than that of the raw biomass (9.33 MJ/kg), likely due to the high ash and oxygen contents. GC-MS and FTIR analyses revealed that the bio-oil mainly consisted of esters, alcohols, hydrocarbons, and ketones. In addition, the distribution of inorganic elements and the physicochemical properties of both bio-oil and solid residues were characterized, providing insights into their potential applications. These findings provide a basis for further development of integrated valorization strategies for Sargassum and its solvothermal liquefaction-derived products