By AFP - Agence France Presse
Drinking water in many French cities is contaminated: Study
A type of “forever chemical” linked to health problems and birth defects has been found in the tap water of many French cities, including Paris, according to a study released on Thursday.
According to research by consumer rights organization UFC-Que Choisir and environmental group Future Generations, the chemical TFA (trifluoroacetic acid) was detected in 24 of the 30 samples taken, mainly in Paris.
TFA is a type of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), often called eternal chemicals because they don't degrade easily.
In addition, TFA concentrations exceeded European regulatory limits for 20 individual PFAS in 20 of the 30 samples.
According to EU regulations, from 2026 all drinking water may not exceed 500 nanograms per liter for all PFAS.
NGOs are demanding that TFA be added to the list.
Of the 30 cities and towns where the water was analyzed, the 10th district of the French capital has the second highest concentration, with 6,200 nanograms per liter, behind Moussac in the south of France.
The town of Bruxerolles, in the west of France, came third, with 2,600 nanograms per liter.
The groups lamented that in France, TFA is “rarely - if ever - looked for by regional health agencies during drinking water checks”.
“There is no miracle solution to offer consumers,” Pauline Cervan, a toxicologist at Future Generations, told reporters on Thursday.
“Bottled water is also contaminated and filters are not effective.”
In addition to TFA, the two groups analyzed the presence of other chemicals forever in the water.
The concentrations of PFAS “remain in line with the standard chosen by France”, where the limit is set at 100 nanograms/liter.
But this standard is “much less stringent than those of other countries”, such as the United States and Denmark, the groups said, adding that the French standards are “very unprotective” and are not based on “any solid toxicological data”.
If France applied the stricter standards and included TFA, 80% of the samples in the survey would be non-compliant, said Olivier Andrault of UFC-Que Choisir.
“We therefore need to act,” he added.
“On an individual level, it's impossible to escape PFAS,” added Cervan. “So we need collective action on the part of the public authorities.”
A bill aimed at restricting the manufacture and sale of PFAS, which was adopted at first reading by lawmakers in the spring of 2024, is due to be voted on again next month.
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