Cadmium: a reimbursed screening test for overexposed people

As of June 16, 2026, screening for cadmium exposure will be reimbursed by the Health Insurance. This measure follows on from a decision of the Union nationale des caisses d'assurance maladie published in the Official journal of the French Republic on june 2, 2026.

In 2024, the French National Authority for Health (HAS) recommended screening people « potentially overexposed to cadmium because of their place of residence ». A report published by ANSES in March 2026 has proposed action levers to reduce the impregnation of the French population with this substance.

Cadmium exposure screening: for whom and how?

Cadmium exposure screening will be reimbursed by the Health Insurance up to 60% for patients at risk, in a city laboratory (the rest being covered by complementary health). The patient will have to pay a flat fee of € 2 as for each medical biology act or any medical consultation.

This screening must be prescribed by a doctor and is intended for:

• ‘persons potentially overexposed to cadmium by reason of their place of residence’, where the soil has been previously recognized by the competent authorities as being contaminated by cadmium;
• persons under surveillance for "chronic" cadmium poisoning related to their place of residence.

The test consists of a urinary cadmium test (called cadmiuria) performed in first intention. A blood test (cadmiemia), also reimbursed, can be carried out in a complementary way if the rate of cadmiuria is high.

These assays must be carried out in the conditions defined by the HAS.