If you live in Paris or the south-west France region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine you may soon be receiving in the post a letter inviting you to take part in a health survey.

The French public health body Santé Publique France has announced the launch of a giant survey it has named Albane which aims to “document the state of health of the population living in France, their eating habits and physical activity, as well as their exposure to various chemical substances”.

The study will involve 400 randomly-selected people (200 adults and 200 children) who will be invited to take part in a detailed survey intended to give a snapshot of the nation’s health. 

Among the topics covered will be whether people drink tap water or mineral water, whether they buy organic fruit and vegetables or not, how often they cook, the type of chemicals they may be exposed to at home or work and whether they walk regularly.

The survey will begin in Paris and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and then be extended to 3,000 people in France’s other regions from March 2025.

Anyone selected to take part will receive a letter through the mail from Santé Publique France and the Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire (Anses) referencing the Albane enquiry and inviting them to take part.

What does it involve?

Being a survey participant comes in two parts – first is the detailed questionnaire looking at all aspects of health from diet and exercise to daily life.

Survey participants will also be asked to attend a medical laboratory where they will receive a medical check-up (height, weight, muscle tone etc) as well as giving blood and urine samples that will be analysed for exposure to chemicals.

Some participants may be required to wear an activity tracker such as a Fitbit in order to monitor their health and activity over the course of several days.

Can I refuse?

Yes, the first part of the process involves asking for the consent of those involved, so you have the option to say no.

It is not possible to volunteer to be a participant, as those invited are selected to provide a representative sample of the population.

Why are they doing this?

Éric Vial, Director of Risk Assessment at Anses and one of the study leaders, told Le Parisien: “The role of diet in increasing or preventing certain diseases, such as cancer, obesity and cardiovascular disease, has now been established.

“But in order to better prevent these diseases and improve the population’s state of health, it is essential to have a good understanding of our diet and nutritional status.

“Our aim is to assess the nutritional, microbiological and chemical risks to which people are exposed as a result of their eating habits. The other parts of the survey involve gathering information about the individual’s environment, at home and at work, and their state of health.”

Find more details on Albane here.