Day: 12 March 2025

Over the past year, regional health agencies across France have been testing tap water for 20 types of PFAS – a group of toxic, persistent substances often referred to as forever chemicals. Though parts of the country remain well below the European regulatory limit of 0.1 µg/L, certain areas of southern France have returned results dangerously above this marker.

PFAS, a group of over 3,000 chemicals used in non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, and firefighting foams, are persistent pollutants that accumulate in the environment and pose serious health risks to humans, including increased cholesterol, cancers and fertility issues, as well as harm to all other life forms on our planet.

See more: PFAS: EU pushes for ban on forever chemicals in consumer products

In 2024, regional health agencies across France began testing drinking water for PFAS, but the process has been slow, with only 967 of the nation’s 23,209 drinking water networks having conducted tests as of 31st January 2025. In fact, there is a gross lack of PFAS analysis from more than 50 French departments, highlighting a significant gap in monitoring and compliance with legislation designed to protect the public from the threats associated with exposure to PFAS.

Thus far, testing has primarily been conducted where contamination is suspected, with action plans then implemented if safety limits are exceeded. It should be noted that exceeding the standard does not result in an immediate restriction of water distribution, only the necessity of remedial measures.

Local and regional hotspots

According to data collated by the Ministry of Solidarities and Health, the average level of PFAS in French tap water last year was 0.014 µg/L. While well below the 0.1 µg/L limit, more than a dozen local networks analysed in 2024 exceeded this threshold.

The town of Fos-sur-Mer, a petrochemical hub near the Marseille area, recorded the highest levels of PFAS in tap water in the country: a thoroughly concerning 0.684 µg/L. A neighbourhood near Narbonne, meanwhile, reported a level of 0.131 µg/L. Two Montpellier districts recorded similarly high levels.

See more: Microplastics in bottled water: which brands are the safest to drink?

Other parts of France also showed significant PFAS contamination. Haut-Rhin, where contamination was linked to firefighting drills at Basel-Mulhouse Airport, had an average level of 0.285 µg/L, well above the standard, although only 11 of 366 municipalities were tested. Hérault and Aude also reported high levels. The region of Occitanie was another outlier, recording a concerning 0.136 µg/L, although only five of 1,130 municipalities underwent testing.

Conversely, Alpes-Maritimes and Var remained within compliant levels, averaging 0.007 µg/L and 0.014 µg/L, respectively. At a regional level, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur maintained compliance at 0.006 µg/L, with 553 of 989 municipalities tested.

Studies suggest that even PFAS levels below European regulatory limits could be hazardous. Past regulatory thresholds have been lowered as new research has emerged, raising concerns that current limits remain too high. Unlike in the US, where media coverage and films like Dark Waters have exposed the dangers of PFAS, public awareness in France remains low.

For the full report, as well as a tool to check the state of the water in individual towns, click here.

Read related:

Terrifying scale of forever chemicals across Europe revealed in new PFAS mapping project

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Photo credit: Karolina Grabowska, Pexels 

The world’s oceans are in trouble. From stifling levels of pollution to habitat devastation and overfishing, the situation is critical, and immediate action is needed if we are to safeguard the future of the oceans and the health of the planet as a whole. In a bold call to action, Prince Albert II of Monaco has taken to social media to invite world leaders, NGOs, the private sector and citizens from around the globe to join in with the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco this June.

Ahead of the UN Ocean Conference in Nice in June, Monaco will co-host the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in collaboration with France and Costa Rica. The event, set to be held on 7th and 8th June at the Grimaldi Forum, will focus on key industries that intersect with ocean sustainability, including maritime transport, fishing and aquaculture, renewable marine energy, sustainable tourism and marine conservation.

With the global ocean crisis at the forefront, the event will gather key stakeholders to drive urgent action for the sustainable use and protection of ocean resources. It promises to be a pivotal gathering for those committed to shaping a more sustainable future for our planet, with the overarching goal of mobilising the investments, both public and private, needed to build a sustainable blue economy.

On 10th March, Prince Albert II, a staunch ocean conservationist as well as Monaco’s Sovereign Prince, appeared in a video shared by the organisers of the Blue Economy and Finance Forum on YouTube, in which he issued a call to action for everyone, from world leaders to everyday citizens, to take part in the upcoming event.

“We now understand how central the ocean is to our future,” proclaimed the Prince. “Whether we speak about climate, biodiversity or health, or whether we address food, trade or energy, every time we look to the future, our focus inevitably shifts to the ocean. Despite this, we are still struggling to create a world capable of respecting these vast expanses of water and their ecosystems, preserving their delicate balance and safeguarding their wealth. However, we must act now, without delay, to prepare this world through global governance regulations, which will be the focus of the UN Ocean Conference from 9th to 13th June.”

He continued, “True to its traditions, values, and ambitions, the Principality of Monaco has decided to take action for this by organising, with the support of Costa Rica and France, the organisers of the UN Ocean Conference, a dedicated event to advance this goal: the Blue Economy and Finance Forum… But this event will be more than a forum. It will provide a unique opportunity to bring together decision-makers, finance professionals, philanthropists, NGOs and players from the private sector to turn ambition into action. Together, we will drive the investments needed for a sustainable blue economy, both public and private, and lay the foundations for a future that unites human progress with planetary conservation.”

The ocean’s ecosystem services are estimated to be worth nearly €27.5 trillion annually, yet current investment levels fall drastically short of what is needed. To meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), funding must increase sevenfold, reaching €160 billion per year. Stakeholders from all sectors and backgrounds have a critical role to play in ensuring these financial commitments are met and that real change is implemented, and Prince Albert is keen to involve all voices in the talks at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum.

“We must develop an economic model commensurate with these evolving requirements,” noted the Prince. “In order to achieve this, we will address key sectors: maritime transport, fishing and aquaculture, renewable marine energies, sustainable tourism, and conservation of the marine environment. We will make the ocean’s immense value tangible, with its ecosystem services representing close to $30 trillion annually. We will explore how to mobilise $175 billion every year to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. Faced with such a challenge, businesses have a pivotal role to play. Governments must provide the impetus, and every stakeholder can be a vital force for change. That is why we must move forward all together.”

The Prince concluded, “That is why I invite you to join us in Monaco on 7th and 8th June to share your vision, discover innovative solutions and be part of the movement shaping the future of the blue economy, the ocean, and our planet.”

For more information about the Forum and how to be a part of this landmark event, click here.

To watch Prince Albert’s speech in full, see below:

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Photo source: Blue Economy and Finance Forum