These are factories, industrial or agricultural storage sites, waste processing sites too… May present a danger to the environment or the neighborhood, they are classified in the category of Installations classified for environmental protection (ICPE) . Since June 2023, some of these ICPEs (5,000 out of 500,000) must analyze the eternal pollutants that may be contained in the water they discharge. A great first. Although not everyone has yet responded to this obligation, the first results are in and they are enlightening: 1,226 of the 5,000 sites, installations and companies concerned by the pollutant research campaign declare that at least one PFAS has been detected in the water they evacuate.
“Deleterious effects for humans”
The expression “eternal pollutants” refers – low estimate – to at least 4,000 extremely resistant chemical compounds, which are causing growing health concern. Widely used since the 1950s by industry for their extraordinary properties, these per- and polyfluoroalkyls (PFAS) are everywhere. Non-stick, anti-stain and waterproof: they are used to make lipstick as well as a Teflon pan, to design clothing and food packaging. But this “magical” material has, as ANSES says, “deleterious effects for humans” which are proven. Scientific work reveals that certain PFAS increase certain cancers, have effects on fertility and fetal development, on the liver, kidneys, etc.
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