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Invisible but dangerous substances threaten the drinking water of several French municipalities. According to an investigation revealed by France Bleu and Radio France, alarming levels of eternal pollutants (PFAS) exceed future European standards. What are the health risks and are you concerned? Discover the worrying results and the most affected municipalities.
Three municipalities have an overall PFAS rate higher than the European reference standard of 100 nanograms/litre for the 20 regulated PFAS, which should come into full force in 2026. This is the observation made by the Radio France teams for the municipalities of Cognac, Martres-Tolosane (Haute-Garonne) and Saint-Symphorien-d’Ozon (Rhône).
PFAS, invisible enemies
PFAS are a family of synthetic chemicals with a very long life cycle, which has earned them the nickname “forever pollutants”. Virtually indestructible, they accumulate over time and are extremely persistent in the environment and also in the body.
Considered endocrine disruptors, PFAS are increasingly highlighted in the scientific literature as risk factors for human health. In particular, they are thought to be the cause of certain cancers (testicular, breast, kidney). Significant and prolonged exposure to PFAS can also promote obesity, increase cholesterol levels or cause complications during pregnancy, including an increased risk of miscarriage or high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia).
Eternal pollutants: are you affected?
In Cognac, the sum of the 20 regulated PFAS “reached almost 200 ng/litre, double the regulatory threshold“, according to the samples taken.
The river that supplies the city with water”has several upstream industries, including a paper mill and a former Naval Group metal processing workshop, near Angoulême“, according to the investigation which also highlights the presence not far from the Jarnac firefighter training center, which uses firefighting foams loaded with PFAS.
The water in the town of Martres-Tolosane, south of Toulouse, contains “a cocktail of eight different molecules“, whose presence in the water could have been caused by the presence of heavy industries on the territory and upstream of several chemical companies.
Finally, the commune of Saint-Symphorien-d’Ozon, whose water was tested like the others last spring, was also outside the limits, despite an “action plan” with the Greater Lyon conurbation to reduce the level of pollutants, but “New analyses, slightly below the threshold, were carried out in July“, according to the investigation.
The investigation by the 44 local France Bleu stations and the investigation unit of Radio France offers a national mapping showing the results of their samples.
43% of samples contain “eternal pollutants”
These three municipalities are not the only ones to be problematic, according to the investigation: out of 89 samples of tap water taken by public radio journalists, “43% contained PFAS, 27 had PFAS banned or classified as carcinogenic, including five at levels of concern“, in this case in Auxerre, Lille, Saint-Jean-de-Losne (Côte d’Or), Saint-Vit (Doubs) and Déols (Indre).
All samples were taken according to the instructions of the Ianesco laboratory, approved by the health authorities and which usually works for several regional health agencies.
He was responsible for analyzing the samples, the authors of the investigation told AFP, claiming “scientific rigor” even if the number of samples is modest.