The LILAS project: analysis of applying participatory approaches such as Living Labs to research on multiple environmental exposures and chronic risks

Context: Participatory research in environmental health remains rare in France. The objectives of environmental health research projects can, like their methods, be very diverse. Opportunities for greater involvement of civil society, as well as its challenges, differ at each step of such research activities. All these aspects need to be widely shared. As a preparatory step toward the development of concrete new participatory research projects on multiple environmental exposures, the LILAS project aimed to (1) favor the mutual understanding of the main issues and research methods in environmental health and their stakes for different participants, but also the requirements, strengths, and limitations of these methods, and (2) identify the expected benefits and points to watch out for related to stronger civic participation in these projects. Methods: The LILAS project identified and gathered together institutional researchers, academics and civil society participants (mainly from nongovernmental organizations) interested in multiple exposures (chemical and radiological). The relevant literature was searched to learn from previous participatory research projects in this broad field. Several meetings enabled the group to collectively identify different types of studies and analyze the benefits, limitations and methods related to the introduction of such participation. An analysis matrix was co-constructed and completed by study participants, as in a Living Lab approach. Results: The matrix lists for different types of studies (assessment of environmental exposures, identification of their determinants, interventions on these exposures, quantitative risk assessment, epidemiological studies, experimental research, ecosystem health, etc.) the expected benefits for several categories of stakeholders, the fundamental principles of research methods, and their related practical constraints, advantages and limitations related to the use of participatory or more standard approaches. Conclusion: The LILAS project enabled the development of a solid basis for the co-construction of participatory research projects to study multiple environmental exposures.