The government revealed on Tuesday its action plan against PFAS, these chemical substances nicknamed “eternal pollutants” for their extreme persistence in nature.
PFAS are everywhere today. They come from industrial waste, but also from everyday objects, such as plastic packaging, Teflon pans or waterproof textiles. And they are very dangerous to health.
The French government thus promises to identify the main industrial sites emitting PFAS. Factories that manufacture fire-fighting foams or Teflon stoves will, for example, have to carry out analyzes of their industrial discharges and then start a “ reduction approach “, assures the Ministry of Ecological Transition.
For its part, the State undertakes to better measure and quantify the presence of these “eternal pollutants” in nature. This means in the air, in the ground and in lakes, rivers and ponds, because monitoring is very disparate today.
Blurry measures for environmental defenders
Future Generations denounces vague and too timid measures. The NGO recently showed that PFAS are present in the surface waters of around fifty departments in France.
In France, the number of PFAS measured remains very low compared to future European requirements. The obligation to monitor drinking water is not planned before 2026 concerning PFAS and the government does not promise to oblige manufacturers to reduce their pollution.
A positive point all the same according to the NGOs: France’s support for the initiative of five European countries which are asking for a restriction of PFAS on a European scale. But the procedure will be long, and no ban is expected for two years.