The Dangers of PFAS: Chièvres Water Contamination Scandal Revealed

2023-11-11 19:18:00

PFAS are nicknamed “eternal chemicals” because they are extremely persistent. Once released into the environment, their lifespan is several hundred or even thousands of years.

They resist high temperatures and repel water. They are found in many everyday objects: Teflon pans, rainproof clothing, food packaging. They are also associated with risks of cancer, disruption of the hormonal and immune system.

In Chièvres, 5 times the tolerable dose between 2021 and 2023

RTBF’s #Investigation and Decryption teams got their hands on documents calling into question the transparency of public authorities. These are analyzes of the distribution water in Chièvres. These analyzes show that between October 2021 and March 2023, the inhabitants of 12 villages (Chièvres, Tongre-Saint-Martin, Tongre-Notre-Dame, Huissignies, Ladeuze, Moulbaix, Villers-Notre-Dame, Ormeignies, Tourpes, Blicquy, Chapelle-à-Oie, Ellignies-Sainte-Anne, Aubechies) consumed a water contaminated with PFAS exceeding 5 times the tolerable dose set by the European Food Safety Authority, which will come into force in 2026.

These water analyzes carried out by the Walloon Water Company (SWDE) and commissioned by the Walloon Minister of the Environment, Céline Tellier (Ecolo), were never communicated to citizens or even to officials of the municipalities concerned during the period. of heavy contamination which lasted more than a year and a half. This lack of information prevented consumers from applying a precautionary principle allowing them to avoid drinking this water.

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