The Environmental Health Impacts of Technologies, a New Way to Contest Science?

The rapid development of technologies, such as biotechnologies, nanotechnologies and radiofrequencies (namely mobile phones, Wifi, relay masts, etc.) available on the market coupled with the insufficient risk assessment of their potential negative impacts on health result in a growing public concern and distrust in the general benefits of science and technology. Uncertainties and scientific controversies related to the consequences on human health and biodiversity of these emerging environmental and bio-physical hazards (such as the presence of GMOs and nanomaterials in food or manufactured products or the increase in electromagnetic fields) are rising. They question scientific “technocratic” expertise and more largely the gap between science and society. Various groups (NGOs) contest the use of these technologies and traditional risk governance. They demand a better transparency in the decision-making process as to technological choices and a more democratic governance of public policies in the field of environmental health. Several participatory initiatives of upstream engagement of these NGOs have been conducted such as public debates, dialogue committees, etc. to try to regain trust in the institutions and in the process of health risk assessment. This communication will present and analyze the processes set up within the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety to foster dialogue with civil society in this field.