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14 deputies were contaminated by at least one eternal pollutant. The environmental chemistry researcher at the CNRS explains what it is.
“We we are all infected. We all have these toxic substances in our bodies”. 14 deputies were contaminated by at least one natural pollutant according to Nicolas Thierry, deputy for the 2nd constituency of Gironde – EELV. These eternal pollutants are fluorinated compounds, used since the 1950s. They are extremely resistant to temperatures and other chemical agents. “All of its properties ultimately motivated their use in a large number of industrial applications, for example paints, pesticides, fire-fighting foams and also everyday applications, for example non-stick packaging, non-stick pans, outerwear”, explains Pierre Labadie, researcher in environmental chemistry at the CNRS.
A danger to humans?
In almost all human samples analyzed, PFAS is found at a minimum. “The main routes of exposure will rather be the consumption of contaminated water or contaminated food, since, if we take the example of aquatic ecosystems, we can have a transfer of PFAS from water to all organisms. And so, if we typically consume seafood, we can increase our exposure to PFAS”.
These pollutants can cause certain effects for humans such as “type endocrine disruptors, including disrupting the thyroid of organisms, carcinogenic effects that have also been highlighted, and perhaps the hottest topic right now is the impact of these compounds on the immune system and especially on the vaccine response. There has also been evidence of effects on fertility, impact on reproduction”. The European Chemicals Agency announced in February that it would assess a bill tabled by five northern European countries to ban PFAS.