the Netherlands alerts France about the activities of Chemours, a chemical giant based in Oise

The Teflon brand, for example, is them. This is information which, for the moment, remains under the news radar in France, despite articles revealed by the Dutch press: the province of South Holland, in the Netherlands, wrote a letter of two pages (PDF document) to the Oise prefecture to warn them against the Chemours company. This chemical giant is the target of an investigation in the Netherlands for pollution with PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances), “eternal pollutants”, extremely resistant in the environment. These include, for example, chemical compounds that are used to make clothing waterproof or pans non-stick.

And if the Dutch authorities contacted the Oise prefecture, it is because the multinational, already established in Villers-Saint-Paul in the department, wants to expand, to produce membranes which will be used in the production of hydrogen. If 80 new jobs are at stake, the Dutch are calling for “caution”especially since the company has already lied in the past.

Lies Van Aelst is one of the whistleblowers. The elected official lives less than 30 kilometers from the Chemours factory, in Dordrecht. “Chemours has a fairly large factory in Dordrecht and they have seriously polluted it hereshe denounces. Chemours releases perennial pollutants, chemical compounds that never disappear from the environment. All around the factory, the water is polluted.”

“People can’t eat eggs or drink milk anymore. It’s all from Chemours.”

Lies Van Aelst, elected official and whistleblower

at franceinfo

In the Netherlands, a criminal investigation is open: 2,400 people have already filed a class action.

In the United States, DuPont (the former name of Chemours) has already been condemned. A 20-year fight for lawyer Robert Bilott, which was even the subject of a film: Dark Waters. “DuPont denied it, but we now know that these substances are a real threat to the environment and human health, says the lawyer. They have been associated with serious illnesses: kidney cancer, testicular cancer, or high cholesterol levels… Billions of dollars in medical costs across the world.”

Since then, PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), the substance found in the United States in this case, has been banned in Europe. But the Americans and Dutch are also warning about a replacement product sold by Chemours, GenX. The group, for its part, assures that each site is different and that the substances produced in Oise are low risk. And that of the nearly 200 million dollars invested to expand the plant, 50 will be used to treat waste.

But François Veillerette, of the NGO Générations futures, remains cautious. He has already filed a complaint against X for pollution. “We carried out analyzes at the Villers-Saint-Paul chemical platform in the Oise and downstream, in the Oise river, showing the presence of numerous PFAS, in particular the PFAS of greatest concern. But there is no way of knowing exactly where it came from, so a complaint against X was necessary.”

“We are not accusing, but it worries us since a company that malfunctions in one place is likely to do so in other places.”

François Veillerette, from the NGO Générations futures

at franceinfo

For now, French authorities support Chemours’ expansion. A year ago, the Minister of Industry, Roland Lescure, welcomed it.

The Hauts-de-France region is also financing the extension, with the release of 800,000 euros in aid. As for the Oise prefecture, according to Dutch elected officials, it did not respond to the warning letter sent in November.

In this letter, the Dutch province of South Holland also invites the prefectural team to come to the Netherlands for a “exchange of experiences“When requested, the Oise prefecture did not provide answers to our questions.