Socioeconomic Determinants of the Chemical Exposome and Its Genotoxic Effects in Children

Growing evidence points to a complex influence of the exposome on health outcomes. Epidemiological studies show associations between pesticides and cognitive delay and cancers. Only few were conducted in children. Chemical exposures differ between socioeconomic groups. The more disadvantaged the group, the higher are some exposures. However, the effect of the exposome on health is complicated to assess due to the long latencies of most diseases. It is therefore important to link social and chemical exposures to 'immediate' outcomes or molecular risk factors for human diseases. There is a strong connection between DNA damage and chronic diseases such as cancers. However, it is difficult to attribute these risks to specific impregnations.

The present study will address the impact of socioeconomic position, hence social inequalities, on environmental exposures and their biological consequences in children. Our approach is to detect DNA damage in hair follicles and associate these measurements with pesticide detections in the hair matrix and socioeconomic position (SEP).

PESTIFOL will include children over 8 and under 12 years old of different socioeconomic positions (SEP), mostly living in the region of Pays de la Loire. This approach should enable us to assess the impact of the SEP, and therefore social inequalities, on chemical expositions and DNA damage, and to characterize which (classes/mixture of) pollutants are major source of DNA damage. The study will also address potential effects associated with geographical location on the exposome and its biological consequences.

Inclusion criteria

• Children over 8 and under 12 years old at the time of inclusion
• Children in school in class level CE2, CM1 or CM2
• Living in the Pays de La Loire region, at least 80% of the time
• Written informed assent and consent obtained from the participant and both parents or legal representative prior to performing any protocol-related procedures.

Exclusion criteria

• Disorder precluding understanding of trial information or informed assent.