Overexposure to chlordecone in the West Indies: advice from ANSES to limit the risks

In its expert report published on 28 November, ANSES warns of the risk of overexposure to chlordecone in the West Indies and recalls the correct attitude to follow.

ANSES’s recommendations seem to have borne fruit

In its new expert appraisal, ANSES considers that compliance with all the recommendations issued in 2007 (limit the consumption of fishery products from short supply chains to four times a week; do not consume fishery products in from areas where fishing is prohibited; limiting the consumption of roots and tubers from home gardens in contaminated areas to twice a week) allows populations exposed to Chlordecone to greatly reduce their risks.

In its press release, the Agency even confirms “that the vast majority of populations are already applying these recommendations”.

Beware of contaminated eggs

It also emerges from this expertise that consumption “self-produced eggs in an area known to be contaminated“is very harmful for the population.

Therefore, the Agency recommends strengthening the uptake and use of “jJAFA family gardens“themselves directed by the regional health agencies in Guadeloupe and Martinique.

These programs make it possible to check the concentration of chlordecone in the gardens of the families and to provide them with “personalized advice on breeding practices“.

Currently, 14% of the population of Guadeloupe and 25% of the population of Martinique have an excessively high concentration of chlordecone in the blood.