INSERM, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, comprises 300 research units that cover all aspects of medical research. Unit 625 (Professor Sylvaine Cordier) in Rennes is specialized in the biological and epidemiological aspects of the consequences of environmental pollution on reproduction and child development, and they have extensive expertise and experience.

Unit 625 is responsible for a mother-child birth cohort in Brittany (PELAGIE) to be completed by the end of 2005 and have recently initiated recruitment in the French Caribbean (Guadaloupe). Previous investigations of the team also include a case-control study on bladder cancer in France with a retrospective assessment of exposure to water DBPs and ozonation. Furthermore scientists from National Institute for Public Health Surveillance (Institut de Veille Sanitair) (Dr Damien Mouly) will collaborate with them on a DBP sampling programme and exchange information with the proposed study (see main text). They will lead the research area on cancer and make a contribution to WP 4 by providing data for the pooled analysis.