The more we dig, the more eternal pollutants we find around Lyon.
The Rhône prefecture confirmed on Monday the presence of high levels of perfluorinated compounds (PFAS) in eggs collected near factories in the chemical valley, widening the sector where it recommends not to consume them.
Of 30 new samples taken from private chicken coops in the municipalities of Pierre-Bénite, Oullins, Irigny and Saint-Genis-Laval, 26 show values that exceed European thresholds.
Already in January, the prefecture had indicated that the first samples had revealed levels eight to 16 times higher than the regulatory values.
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In the meantime, several municipalities had published the results of a sampling campaign carried out in parallel with that of State services, revealing the presence of PFAS even in the soils of schools, sports grounds or urban vegetable gardens.
The Metropolis of Lyon has meanwhile specified that several drinking water collection points in the agglomeration showed traces of these eternal pollutants.
A vast plan has been validated by the elected officials to continue their identification.
Since the announcement of this pollution by the France 2 documentary,
Vert de rage
, almost a year ago, the high levels of PFAS in the soils surrounding the Arkema and Daikin sites have been confirmed on several occasions.
Measures from the prefecture have established that the Arkema factory directly discharges wastewater containing PFAS into the Rhône, where fish also have high levels.
To the point that their consumption is now not recommended.
Two districts of Lyon affected
The recommendation not to consume eggs and
“meat from poultry from henhouses belonging to individuals”
is therefore maintained and extended to eleven other neighboring municipalities, as well as to two districts of Lyon.
Egg samples will also be taken there.
To “
better understand the source of impregnation
”,
“soil samples”
will also be taken from
“several sites”
concerned.
“A questionnaire will be sent to the individuals concerned to analyze the breeding and feeding method of their laying hens”
, adds the prefecture, recalling that
“eggs are particularly sensitive markers vis-à-vis the presence of perfluorinated substances”
.
In Pierre-Bénite is notably the site of the chemist Arkema, where activists from Extinction Rebellion had carried out an action in December to denounce "environmental pollution".
The factory is located in what is known as “the valley of chemistry”.
For its part, the government announced an action plan and showed its support for a project to restrict the manufacture and use of PFAS.
Among the measures announced, an
“identification process for industrial sites potentially emitting significant quantities of PFAS”
.
Arkema's Pierre-Bénite site should be a “
forerunner
” of this identification and reduction process.