Pesticides in the Aunis Plain: 70 children searched for pollutants in their bodies

Are pollutants lurking in our children’s bodies? To find out and put pressure on public authorities, the association Avenir Santé Environnement is preparing to launch a civic project “NEEXT”, an acronym for “Our children are exposed to toxic substances”. Founded in 2018 after cases of unexplained childhood cancer in the Aunis Plain, this association has since been fighting for a ban on synthetic pesticides and the beginning of a real transition to agriculture. Through this research project, carried out in collaboration with a public laboratory, its volunteers hope to “obtain a photograph of pollutants at a specific point in time,” explains Frank Richet-Giraulet, president of Avenir Santé Environnement.

The association plans to involve 70 children aged 3 to 17 years from six municipalities of the La Rochelle region: Perigny, Saint-Rogatien, Clavette, Bournieuf, Dompierre-sur-Mer and Monroy. The latter village is home to an air sensor that detected the presence of prosulfocarb, a herbicide, in 2021 at “levels never before seen in France.” Urine and hair tests will be carried out “in the spring” on 70 selected minors, details Frank Richet-Girolais, who intends to surround himself with all possible guarantees to guarantee the seriousness of this operation. The results will be known in the fall.

“We are not looking for those responsible or responsible for this. However, in recent years, government authorities have done little to address air pollution and drinking water withdrawals. These factors legitimize our activities,” emphasizes the President of Avenir Santé Environnement. The Association guarantees that this research is financed exclusively from its own funds. The public presentation of the NEEXT project will take place on February 8 at the Bio’pole Léa Nature in La Rochelle, at 19:00. “I sincerely hope that I don’t find anything, this could be very upsetting for the families,” insists Franck Richet-Girolais. But if the results are bad, we will have to ask ourselves the right question: what are we doing collectively? »