Faced with the many cases of cancer in his town, the mayor of Halluin is asking for an epidemiological study and the opening of a cancer register.
- More than 90% of human exposure to dioxins comes from food, mainly meat, dairy products, fish and seafood, according to the WHO.
- The developing fetus is most sensitive to dioxin exposure.
It was first the inhabitants of his commune who gave the alert to Jean-Claude Destailleur, the mayor of Halluin, a town located in the North. “Very many people with cancer, especially young people, sometimes young girls” he explained on BFM Greater Lille.
“An abnormally high number of cancers”
At the end of August, a gastroenterologist also warned the mayor because he had “noted among his patients, in the communes of Neuville, Roncq (two neighboring towns) and Halluin, an abnormally high number of cancers“.
Following these alerts, an epidemiological study and the opening of a cancer register was requested by the municipality of Halluin from the Regional Health Agency (ARS). The mayor estimates that about fifty people would be suffering from cancer within the municipality of 22,000 inhabitants. But he wants investigations to be carried out to estimate the actual number of patients and compare it to the national average.
Garbage incinerator
For the moment, several hypotheses are put forward by the municipality to explain these cases of cancer. The presence of a household waste incinerator located at the entrance to the town is one of them. For 31 years, until its closure in 2002, this establishment would have released dioxins.
dioxins in cow’s milk
According the world health organization (WHO), “dioxins are a group of chemically related compounds that are persistent organic pollutants in the environment. Dioxins are very toxic and can cause reproductive and developmental problems, damage the immune system, interfere with the hormonal system and cause cancer”.
In 1998, Danone had just discovered dioxins in the milk of cows that the company bought from breeders in Halluin. Several herds had been slaughtered that year, but also in 2001.
No charges
Currently, a new center has replaced the incinerator. It would emit much less pollutants but still burn”350,000 tonnes of waste per year“, according to the mayor of the city, who adds that he does not want “lay no charges on any structure“.
