Tap water is massively contaminated with PFASreveal UFC-What to choose and Future generations. The consumer association andONG publish an alarming study on the presence of PFASces « eternal pollutants »in the water in France. The analyzes were carried out in thirty municipalities. 96 % of samples show traces of these perfluorinated substances, known for their persistence in the environment and their potential toxic effects. Studies already link some to increased risks of cancer, thyroid diseases or hormonal disorders.
Among the thirty-three PFAS sought after, the TFA (trifluoroacetic acid), resulting from the degradation of fluorinated pesticides and other industrial compounds, is of particular concern. It was detected in twenty-four of the thirty samples analyzed, with record concentrations in the Xe district of Paris (6,200 nanograms per liter), Lille (290 ng/l) and Lyon (120 ng/l). Certain areas, such as Tours or the surroundings of Rouen, display « cocktails » impressive number of pollutants: up to eleven PFAS different readings in a single sample.
Industrial and agricultural emissions are to blame
« Tap water is the first food we consume. However, we note that it is systematically contaminated by these substances resulting from decades of industrial and agricultural discharges into waterways and groundwater. »says Olivier Andrault, food project manager atUFC-What to choose. And if tap water filtration and depollution devices exist, « they do not make it possible to effectively eliminate PFAS »he laments.
Despite this widespread presence, these concentrations in PFAS remain compliant with French legislation — much less strict than those of other countries. It sets a threshold of 100 ng/l for a set of twenty PFASa level well above Danish standards (2 ng/l for 4 PFAS) and American (4 ng/l for 2 PFAS). For comparison, in the United States, six of the samples analyzed in France would be judged non-compliant, and with the Danish standard, this figure would rise to fifteen out of thirty.
While some European countries have already adopted drastic thresholds, France continues to apply less restrictive standards, in particular by ignoring the presence of TFA in regulatory controls. « This is a real blind spot. The authorities do not monitor the TFAso they don't consider there to be a problem. However, our analyzes show that it is present absolutely everywhere, that it is probably the most widespread contaminant in French taps. »notes François Veillerette, spokesperson for Générations futures. It requires the rapid removal of pesticides containing the TFAsuch as Flufenacet.
« More than 40 % of hectares include a fall herbicide formulated with flufenacet », We can read on the website of Bayer, pesticide giant.
Flickr / CC BY 2.0 / Frédéric Bisson
A reform of French standards necessary
L’UFC-Que Choisir and Générations futures plead for a profound reform of the standards in force. They request a lowering of the authorized thresholds, a toxicological evaluation of the TFA and its integration into drinking water controls, as well as a strengthening of restrictions on PFASparticularly those resulting from pesticides.
They also call for accountability on the part of manufacturers and pesticide producers, believing that the cost of decontamination should not fall on consumers. It was recently encrypted, by the daily The Worldat 100 billion euros per year in Europe.
Beyond the thresholds and the figures, a whole approach must change. « Today, chemical molecules are evaluated based on data provided by their manufacturers themselves. This creates a profound bias in the estimation of their dangerousness. We shouldn't have to wait for decades of accumulated evidence to act »regrets Olivier Andrault.
« Don't wait for decades of evidence to act »
While the European directive on the quality of drinking water will come into force in 2026, the associations hope that France will take the opportunity to adopt more protective measures. In the meantime, they call on parliamentarians to relaunch the bill, brought forward by the environmentalist deputy Nicolas Thierry, aimed at banning these substances in everyday products and strengthening the responsibility of polluters.
Read also: PFAS : three questions to understand everything about “ eternal pollutants »
THE ONG also warn about the pressure from industrial lobbies in European discussions on the restriction of PFAS. « The project is being dismantled by an increase in exemptions »alerts Olivier Andrault. « Without strong political will, water contamination with perennial pollutants will continue for decades »warns François Veillerette.
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