First survey of such magnitude including a health examination, Albane will bring a precise photograph of the health of the population and its eating habits, its physical activity, their lifestyle and its exposure to fifteen families of substances present in the environment.
A survey of unprecedented magnitude to better protect the health of French
The Albane survey is built around planning in the form of repeated cycles every two years. To each cycle, can be added thematic focus, which will make it possible to deepen the analyzes and more precisely monitor exposure to certain specific substances, pesticides for example, or certain health events, and to analyze their determinants. This broad and continuous vision, based on comparisons from one cycle to another, will make it possible to follow the evolution of the state of health of the French and the nutritional, chemical or microbiological risks linked to their diet, thus measure the effectiveness of the measures implemented by the public authorities and to ultimately orient public policies.
For each cycle, separate samples of more than 3,000 people (children and adults) will be mobilized, selected at random on more than a hundred areas of investigations distributed randomly in the territory.
Several means will be mobilized to collect the data necessary for the calculation of the exhaustive and precise indicators of the state of health of the participants:
- A face to face questionnaire with an investigator on their accommodation, their profession and their families
- A self-questionnaire on their lifestyle, health, eating habits and physical activity
- A food survey with an exhaustive statement of consumption over three non -consecutive days, to be completed on an online platform or by phone with a team of dietitians
- Wearing an accelerometer, over a period of seven days, to measure the physical activity of a random sub-sample of people
- A health examination, to be done in a medical biology laboratory with a measure of size, weight, muscle strength and blood pressure. Urine and hair samples will also be taken from participants over 3 years old, as well as blood samples for those over 6 years of age.
Essential data to improve scientific knowledge and public action
First, the data collected will make it possible to establish:
- Exposure reference values from the levels of impregnation of the population to the substances present in the environment – upstream of any health interpretation
- The environmental and food determinants of these exhibitions;
- The unmatched part of certain chronic diseases and its evolution
- The prevalence of adequacy and inadequacy of nutritional contributions
In a second step, the results of Albane, associated with the data of the National Health Data System (SNDS), will make it possible to determine which diseases developed according to exposures, eating habits and characteristics of the environment described or measured. They will feed additional work carried out by ANSES aimed at establishing reference toxicological values for a substance, that is to say the level of concentration of a substance from which it represents a risk to health.
In the longer term, these data will be made available to French and international research teams to better characterize the links between health, environment and food.
At the European Union level, the results of Albane will be exploited within the framework of the European partnership for the assessment of risks linked to chemicals (Parc), a large -scale collaboration unwilling 200 partners at European level. This partnership coordinated by ANSES, aims in particular to better anticipate emerging risks and to support the effective implementation of the new orientations of European public health and environmental policies.
The results of the Albane survey, in particular updated consumption data, will also be shared with EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) to assess the risks linked to substances in food.
Participants membership: a key element for the success of the system
To contribute to the health of future generations, Albane needs the full involvement of the participants. Their commitment throughout the survey is essential to ensure the collection of all the necessary data, on a sample which will be representative of the population.
To ensure the correct information of those involved, Public Health France and ANSES make available:
- A dedicated website: Albane survey
- An information leaflet incorporating a component addressed specifically to children
- A distribution plan with 8,000 contacts is deployed to promote information from health professionals, local elected officials and communities and benefit from their support.
Focus on the confidentiality of personal data
The Albane survey implements a processing of personal data based on the achievement of a mission of public interest, of which Public Health France and ANSES are responsible.
Public Health France and ANSES ensure the safety and confidentiality of the responses and measures made to the participants, from their collection to their destruction, thus protecting their privacy. A newsletter detailing data processing methods as well as the rights of participants on them is given to the requested persons, upstream of their participation.
The computer processing of the data collected received in September 2024 the favorable opinion of the CNIL, in accordance with the provisions of the law “Data Protection” relating to the processing of personal data implemented within the framework of research, survey, evaluation in the field of health. The Albane survey is also the subject of an authorization issued by the Personal Protection Committee (CPP) in October 2023.
She obtained an advice of an opportunity favorable by the National Statistical Information Council (CNIS) in December 2022 and is recognized as a general interest by the Insee label committee since April 2025. The Albane survey finally received the favorable opinion of the Statistical Secret Committee for the use of data from the Foyli file.
