In the Ardennes, several mayors wanted to know if they carried in them the traces of the famous “eternal pollutants”. The results of blood analyzes have something to freeze: their PFAS rates far exceed the usual thresholds, fueling concern about drinking water and the local environment.
Mayors whose blood is contaminated at the PFAS
They thought they had an idea of what they were going to discover, but reality has exceeded their fears. Three mayors of Ardennes communes (Richard Philbiche, mayor of Villy, Annick Dufils, mayor of Malandry and Etienne Malcuit, mayor of La Ferté-sur-Chiers) had their blood analyzed in a specialized laboratory. “”We expected to have them, but at this rate, I am surprised “one of them told France 3.
In the United States, the established thresholds indicate that a PFAS level less than 2 micrograms per liter (µg/L) is considered negligible. Between 2 and 20 µg/L, it is advisable to be cautious, especially for vulnerable people like the elderly and pregnant women. A rate above 20 µg/L is considered to have an increased risk for health and requires medical follow -up. Annick Dufils revealed that his blood analysis showed a PFAS rate of 132.81 µg/L, which deeply shocked and worried.
The results therefore reveal PFAS concentrations – persistent chemicals present in the environment – significantly superior to the French average. For these elected officials, the shock is real: they find themselves personally contaminated by what they already denounced as a threat to their citizens.
Narious analysis results
The figures are speaking: some samples show comparable, even higher levels, to those observed in firefighters exposed professionally to anti-mosses. For an elected representative, uncertainty is great: “We do not know how these substances will evolve in our body“. According to ANSES (National Agency for Health SECURTITY for Food, Environment and Labor), these compounds are suspected of causing hormonal disorders, damage to the immune system, growth delays in children, in the long term, an increase in certain risk of cancer …
On the side of France Bleu, the observation is posed with gravity: “This is a major health issue“. Pollution no longer only concerns soils or rivers, but is now part of human organisms, with potential effects still poorly known on health.
Suspected spreading sludge, analyzes in progress before legal action
Where does such contamination come from? The looks are turned to agricultural boats and to certain industrial discharges, suspected of disseminating PFAS for years. For the moment, elected officials await the complete results of analysis on floors and drinking water. These data could open the way to legal actions against alleged officials.
Beyond the territory of the Ardennes, this file illustrates the difficulties in controlling substances which, once dispersed, hardly never disappear.
What is the share of pollutants in its water?
Faced with these revelations, many inhabitants wonder how to check the quality of their tap water. But today, almost a third of water networks in France today exceed the thresholds recommended for at least one type of PFAS. So how do you know the state of your network, and how to know if the water consumed is healthy? If there is an online government site, which allows you to know the latest results of health checks, common by municipality, it would not be sufficient.
For what ? Because the figures presented are opposite the standards admitted in France. However, according to a large survey carried out by UFC-Que Choisir and future generations in January behind, the concentrations of PFAS (excluding TFA), the thresholds currently in force in France are much more permissive than those adopted by other countries, which authorizes the exceeding of certain concentrations … to our dependent. “”The French standard on the PFAS provided for in the control plan for 2026, (100 NG/L for the sum of 20 pfas) is far too little protective, especially since it is not based on any solid toxicological data “, indicated the study on the presence of PFAS in tap water of 30 municipalities through France led by UFC-Que Choisir and future generations. By applying the American standard for example (fixed at 4 NG/L for two types of PFAS), many samples deemed to comply today, would pass in the red.
Protect yourself from pollutants: individual action today
Pending stricter collective measures, protection is often based on individual gestures. Some choose to use filter decanters or use bottled water, even if no solution is perfect.
Last May, Dr. Pierre Souvet, cardiologist and president of the ASEF (Association Health Environnement France) contacted by True Medical considered that: “Today there is not really a reliable analysis to know what we drink. There is no way to know it “ he cuts. On the other hand, it would be possible to eliminate pollutants via filtration standards, adopted today by Switzerland for example. “”Active coal processes are the ones that work best. But you have to invest “ he underlines. According to the doctor, this process is one of the only ones to be able to eliminate pesticides, drug residues, chlorine and a number of PFAS. “”It is also a solution that can be installed at home, but only on an individual basis “.
An option, while waiting for the State to make more drastic arrangements.