From the reality of a health problem to the study of its realization.

Summary The 3rd SFSE congress was marked by a remarkable presence of social sciences in its organization and proceedings: two sociologists and an economist in the scientific committee of the colloquium (including its president), an invited lecture, eight communications, and the presence of a manager, a historian and a jurist at the final round table. This presence reflects the SFSE's concern to open up to the social sciences, a concern that itself reflects the place they have taken in research on environmental health risks, but also in the field of expertise (with the increasing participation of sociologists, political scientists, economists and lawyers in the work of the Anses, in particular). This recognition has not, however, removed all the ambiguities surrounding the contribution of the social sciences. Although it seems to be accepted that they cannot be reduced to the sole domain of risk perception studies, in which they have long been confined, the nature and scope of their results nevertheless continue to raise questions and even confusion. [first three paragraphs].