Impact sanitaire des nanomatériaux

Commissariat général au développement durableJan 15, 2026

Les propriétés des nanomatériaux sont utilisées pour de multiples applications, telles que la pharmacie, l’aéronautique et les nouvelles technologies, où ils permettent d’améliorer l’efficacité de traitements médicaux ou d’accroître la compétitivité de l’industrie française. Cependant, les risques induits par ces substances sur l’homme et sur l’environnement restent méconnus, compte tenu de leur développement rapide et récent et du manque de recul pour évaluer leurs effets. L’utilisation de ces substances dans certains produits alimentaires et cosmétiques constitue une source d’exposition de la population. Les règlementations française et européenne imposent, depuis 2013, de mentionner leur présence sur l’étiquette des produits qui en contiennent.

The properties of nanomaterials are used for multiple applications, such as pharmaceuticals, aeronautics, and new technologies, where they help improve the effectiveness of medical treatments or increase the competitiveness of French industry. However, the risks posed by these substances to humans and the environment remain poorly understood, given their rapid and recent development and the lack of hindsight to evaluate their effects. The use of these substances in certain food products and cosmetics is a source of population exposure. French and European regulations have required, since 2013, that their presence be mentioned on the label of products containing them.

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Unknown long-term health impacts
Poorly understood risk
Due to their size, nanomaterials easily cross the biological barriers of the organism. The risks to humans and the environment remain poorly understood, given that the use of these substances is very recent and takes on many different forms.
Knowledge progress and international cooperation
Knowledge of nanomaterial toxicity must continue to advance. To this end, progress in metrology is essential, as is the establishment of common rules for evaluating and characterizing these substances. France supports and relays international efforts launched to assess their toxicity to humans and the environment. It is working with the United Nations to establish a system for identifying hazards from nanomaterials and is also involved in OECD work to define guidelines for characterizing and assessing potential risks from manufactured nanomaterials.
National commitments and work
At the national level, during the 2014 Environmental Conference, France committed to conducting a review of labeling for everyday consumer products and restricting these substances in certain product categories. Additionally, INERIS is working on assessing accidental risks (flammability, explosivity) and the behavior of these substances in different environmental compartments (water, air, soil). It also analyzes the life cycle of these materials. INRA demonstrated in 2017 that ingestion of titanium dioxide nanoparticles promoted colorectal cancer in rats.
Spotlight on titanium dioxide (TiO2)
Titanium dioxide uses
Due to its coloring properties and ultraviolet-absorbing capacity, titanium dioxide (also coded E171 as a food additive) has been used since the 1990s in multiple food products (confectionery, beverages, yogurts, and ice cream in particular), cosmetics (sunscreens), and medicines.
Trade balance evolution
• According to customs statistics, the trade balance (exports minus imports) of titanium dioxide in nanometric form (<100 nm) and non-nanometric form (>100 nm) has declined sharply over the 2007-2017 period. While in 2007 exports were 1.3 times higher than imports, in 2017 imports are twice as high as exports. This reflects a very strong increase in the use of this substance by French industry. • Note: the tonnages presented here include total volumes of titanium dioxide, whether in nanometric form or not.
Carcinogenic classification
• The classification of titanium dioxide as carcinogenic by IARC since 2006 and the existence of toxicological studies on the effects of TiO2 led ANSES to propose to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to classify this substance in category 1B (substance whose carcinogenic potential for humans is presumed). • ECHA proposed a category 2 classification, meaning substances suspected of being carcinogenic to humans (CMR classification under Regulation CLP No. 1272/2008, known as CLP for classification, labeling and packaging of substances and mixtures).
Regulatory suspension
In accordance with the provisions of the "Agriculture and Food" law, the decree of 17 April 2019 suspends the placing on the market of food products containing food additive E171 from 1 January 2020 for a period of one year.
Monitoring occupational exposure to anticipate health risks
EpiNano system setup
Following a joint request from the Directorates General for Health and Labor (DGS - DGT), with the objective of detecting the emergence of health effects, Public Health France established EpiNano in 2014, the national epidemiological surveillance system for workers potentially exposed to manufactured nanomaterials.
Monitored population and method
Workers at facilities involved in the manufacture or use of nanomaterials and working in positions with potential release of powders, aerosols, or droplets that may contain nanomaterials are eligible. These work positions are identified by analyzing industrial hygiene data transmitted by the facility. Public Health France includes eligible workers in the study and monitors them by sending self-administered questionnaires, which are then enriched with data extracted from the National Health Data System (SNDS).
Cohort objectives
Once established, the cohort will be followed over time and collected health data will be compared to those of an unexposed population. Its results should help guide prevention programs.
Growing French concern over a still poorly understood risk
Rising concern
Unlike most topics studied by the IRSN's risk perception barometer, French people are relatively numerous in not having an opinion on the potential dangers posed by the use of nanoparticles. Nevertheless, concern is increasing: in 2017, 37% of French people judge the risks related to nanoparticles as high, compared to one in five in 2010.
Mistrust of information and public action
While half the population is skeptical about the information available to them regarding potential dangers of nanoparticles, 38% of French people do not trust the action taken by public authorities to protect people from this risk. This mistrust remains, however, well below that expressed toward pesticides (60%) or air pollution (48%).
Source
This article is an excerpt from the Environment and Health focus.

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