The 21st century is witnessing an ongoing battle to save humans from extinguishing themselves. Of the many issues we face, one of the most ferocious is pollution, as it doesn’t discriminate, affects all communities regardless of socioeconomic status, race, or geography. From the buzzing streets of big cities to the tranquil life of the mountains, the harmful effects of air, water, and soil contamination are biting into the daily lives of many across the globe.
One of the most concerning aspects is the contamination of drinking water, as it directly affects the human body, transmitting countless diseases and exposing individuals to preventable health risks. New research is uncovering water contamination in unexpected areas of the world such as France. Although committed to ambitious climate goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, some cracks are showing in the French public health system.
« UFC-Que Choisir et Génération Futures », a prominent French consumer rights association, is raising more worries today than ever after a recent study published on January 23rd of this year, where massive quantities of PFAS (Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) were found in the drinking water of 24 out of the 30 municipalities tested, including Paris, Lyon, and Bordeaux, the same water that is consumed daily by citizens.
These substances, known as “eternal pollutants”, have quasi-indestructible properties allowing them to persist in the environment as they are highly resistant to heat, oil, water, and grease. One of these substances is TFA, especially found in pesticides. This chemical was discovered in 24 out of the 30 samples, while other regions like Rouen and Tours contained a “chemical cocktail” with 10 to 11 PFAS in a single sample!
To elaborate further, PFAS regroups a total of 4,700 molecules that accumulate over time in the air, ground, and rivers. Long-term exposure has potentially toxic effects such as cancer, thyroid diseases, and hormonal disorders. Additionally, gray areas remain regarding the toxicity of TFA, assessed as harmful to the liver and the reproductive system by binding to their proteins, hence altering their structure and/or function.
Despite the alarming discoveries, these PFAS concentrations remain within the standard set by the French government, margins that are significantly less stringent than those of other countries. For example, by American standards, 6 out of the 30 samples of water would exceed the admissible threshold; by Danish standards, 15 out of 30...
Confronted with these troubling facts, NGOs are pressing French parliamentarians to act fast by voting for the bill banning these substances in everyday products, drastically reducing industrial discharges, and requiring companies to finance pollution cleanup.