Moussac in Gard holds the national record with a rate 130 times higher than the European threshold of 100 ng/L. This pollution is linked to the industrial activity of the Solvay factory in Salindres, closed in 2024.
© Drinking water: unprecedented levels of pollution detected in Moussac.
A study published this Thursday, January 23, 2025 by UFC-Que Choisir and Générations Futures reveals massive contamination of drinking water by PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)“eternal pollutants” that are almost indestructible. Among the 30 municipalities analyzed, Moussacin the Gard, sadly stands out by holding the record national de contamination.
An alarming level of pollution
With a concentration of 13,000 nanogrammes per liter (ng/L) of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), Moussac displays a rate 130 times higher than the European standard of 100 ng/Lwhich will apply fully in 2026. This figure, well above the quality thresholds, places Moussac at the top of the most affected municipalities in France.
Why is Moussac so impacted?
The survey recalls that this town is located near Salindreswhere a group factory Solvay produced TFA until September 2024. This industrial activity largely explains the high levels of contamination detected in the region's drinking water.
-A national crisis revealed
The study also highlights the contamination of other large cities, although their levels remain lower than those of Moussac:
- Paris (10th arrondissement) : 6,200 ng/L, or 62 times the norm.
- Brussels (Vienna) : 2 600 ng/L.
- Fleury-les-Aubrais (Loiret) : 1 600 ng/L.
- Lille (North) : 290 ng/L.
- Rouen (Seine-Maritime) : 250 ng/L.
PFAS: a threat to health and the environment
THE PFASbringing together more than 4,700 molecules, accumulate in the environment, soils, rivers and even in the human body. They are linked to harmful effects on fertility and an increased risk of certain cancers. These “eternal pollutants” represent a major environmental and health challenge.
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