US factory under scrutiny as French town grapples with toxic egg findings

In the northern French town of Villers-Saint-Paul, residents faced alarming news this summer: local eggs were found to contain hazardous PFAS, or "forever chemicals," linked to severe health risks.

Tests showed that local eggs contained harmful PFAS, known as "forever chemicals," which are synthetic substances that do not degrade and can lead to serious health issues, including cancer, liver damage, and fertility problems, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The origin of these toxic chemicals in the eggs was unclear, but attention turned to a nearby factory operated by US chemicals giant Chemours, which manufactures PFAS. Ironically, Chemours had conducted the tests itself under an agreement with regional authorities, aiming to maintain local trust as it planned a 186-million-euro-expansion to produce PFAS essential for making green hydrogen—a key component in Europe’s decarbonization efforts.

"When we heard there were going to be huge investments in the local factory, everyone thought it was great news," said Deputy Mayor Alexandre Ouizille, highlighting potential job creation and environmental benefits. However, following reports of "eternal pollution of PFAS," sentiments shifted. An investigation by Le Monde earlier in 2023 had also uncovered PFAS contamination in the area. 

This led Mayor Gérard Weyn to seek input from the French environment ministry. In a letter, he stated, "Before the commune commits further to this project, your answers to our various precautionary questions are essential to dispel any doubts about the safety of the current facility and the proposed extension." Regional authorities admit they are uncertain if the pollution originates from the Chemours factory, noting that some PFAS types found in the eggs, particularly those at higher concentrations, are not linked to the facility. 

They plan to conduct further tests for more reliable conclusions. Nevertheless, local politicians remain uneasy, fearing that increased PFAS production could heighten pollution risks. At the core of this dispute is a global tension: as nations strive to develop new technologies to combat catastrophic climate change, many of these innovations come with unexpected side effects that carry serious risks, some of which, such as those linked to PFAS, are only beginning to be understood by science. "You have two major environmental issues at play," noted Deputy Mayor Ouizille. "On one hand, there's decarbonization, and on the other, the issue of PFAS. It's a real challenge." 

PFAS are essential in manufacturing various products, including heat pumps, batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines—key technologies in the EU's climate-neutral strategy. The Chemours factory in Villers-Saint-Paul currently produces these chemicals for fire-fighting foams and stain-resistant coatings for textiles and building materials. The company’s new investments aim to increase production of Nafion, a chemical that aids in splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen during electrolysis. 

By Naila Huseynova