Have the inhabitants of the Belgian region of Wallonia, in the south of the country, been contaminated with “eternal pollutants”? In order to measure their exposure, the regional Minister of the Environment, Céline Tellier, announced that residents who wish will be able to take free blood tests.
This environmentalist has been in turmoil since the revelation last week, in an investigation by the RTBF channel, that regional authorities ignored warnings about the presence of “eternal pollutants” PFAS at abnormally high levels in tap water , in several municipalities located between Ath and Mons.
From infertility to cancer
According to the investigation, water consumed between autumn 2021 and spring 2023 by thousands of Walloons had a concentration of PFAS higher – sometimes up to six times – than 100 nanograms per liter, the threshold generally cited as a reference. in Europe and which must become in 2026 the standard not to be exceeded in the EU.
PFAS, poly and perfluoroalkyl compounds with non-stick and waterproof properties, widely used by industry, owe their nickname “eternal pollutants” to the fact that they are very poorly degradable once in the environment. Scientific studies have shown that in the event of prolonged exposure, they can have multiple harmful effects on human health, fertility and fetal development. They can also increase the risk of obesity or certain cancers (prostate, kidney and testicles).
A precedent in 2017
Faced with the growing concern in Wallonia, Céline Tellier assured during a heated hearing before the regional Parliament in Namur that the values measured in tap water were now “well below the standard”. She also recalled that as a “precaution” the inhabitants of seven municipalities including Ath and Mons were invited not to consume locally produced eggs and vegetables.
The initial alert on water contamination dates back to 2017. Pollution due to the use of firefighting foam and aircraft de-icing products was highlighted on a US Air Force base in Chièvres , near Ath. In 2018, the American army invited soldiers to only consume bottled water. But neighboring communities also served by a supply “well” located in Chièvres were not informed and were unable to warn their citizens. The pollution would have continued for several years.