Translating Endocrine Disruptor Research into Local Public Policy
Background
Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are a major focus of environmental health research, reflected in the rapidly expanding international scientific literature. Beyond research, local authorities have a critical role in reducing population exposure, particularly among vulnerable groups. As managers of childcare and educational facilities, providers of public information, and intermediaries for national health and environmental policies, municipalities are uniquely positioned to translate scientific evidence into preventive action. The City of Lyon has demonstrated sustained political commitment to public and environmental health, notably through its Local Health Contract and the implementation of multiple cross-cutting action plans.

Objectives
The aim of this work is to translate scientific evidence on endocrine disruptors into local public policy interventions in order to prevent and reduce exposure to indoor and outdoor environmental pollutants and to limit chronic exposure especially among children.

Methods
Since 2023, the City of Lyon has implemented a comprehensive EDs action plan within the framework of the national “Cities and Territories without EDs” initiative. The plan is based on interdepartmental collaboration and was further strengthened by the involvement of the municipal civil servants’ Citizens’ Climate Convention in 2025. It operates at the intersection of several local public policies and mobilises all relevant municipal functions, including exposure assessment, food services and public procurement, training and communication, and the design, maintenance and hygiene of buildings.

?Results
The plan comprises 27 actions coordinated by the City of Lyon, of which 74% have been achieved to date. Ten actions have received financial support from the French National Cancer Institute (INCa) due to their contribution to exposure reduction.
Two projects illustrate this approach. The EXP’AIR project assessed phthalate concentrations in indoor air and settled dust in three childcare centres in Lyon, with the objective of documenting exposure levels and identifying actionable levers for facility managers. Conducted as part of the “Zero Phthalates” initiative led by the Réseau Environnement Santé and grounded in evidence from the Endocrine Society (2015), the study followed a measurement protocol developed by the French Scientific and Technical Centre for Building (CSTB). Results indicate lower exposure levels in more recently constructed facilities and highlight indoor dust as a major exposure pathway for young children, underlining the importance of cleaning practices, ventilation and material choices.
The ELYPSE project, launched in January 2026 in partnership with CSTB, aims to quantify per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in indoor air and dust in ten primary schools in Lyon. This study will contribute to characterising background exposure levels in a local industrial context and complements recent IARC evaluations of the carcinogenicity of selected perfluorinated compounds.
Conclusions/Implications
This work illustrates how environmental health can be fully integrated into local ecological transition strategies. It supports the development of a second EDs plan aimed at strengthening municipal capacities in a sustainable manner, including monitoring regulatory developments (REACH), supporting evidence-informed public decision-making in the context of industrial claims, and fostering networks for advocacy, training and responsible public procurement.Bas du formulaire

INCA_18318, ZERO EXPOPE23-017