A study in the golf course of Fos reveals that 63% of the inhabitants suffer from a chronic disease. Researcher Yolaine Ferrier recounts this daily life in the face of industrial pollution.
Fos-sur-Mer and Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône are two towns in Bouches-du-Rhône located on the industrial front of the port area of Fos. This is itself included in the largest industrial complex in the Etang de Berre. Since the 2000s and on the basis of observations, their 24,000 inhabitants have been worried about the impact of cumulative exposure to environmental pollutants on their health.
Fears confirmed this week by a study (1) based on the health of 816 local residents. It shows that they are more affected by respiratory ailments, diabetes and cancer. 63% of the inhabitants of these two municipalities thus suffer from at least one chronic disease against 36.6% in France. Contacted by Why actor, Yolaine Ferrier, co-author of the study, tells their daily life.
What is the life of these inhabitants like?
Yolaine Ferrier : The daily life of these inhabitants is hardly bearable. Their main source of pollutant is the air they breathe every day. There are times of the day when these people are simply forced to close their windows whether it is summer, winter, day or night because. They are constantly hampered by industrial pollution. Those who have asthma suffer from it even more than others. But everyone is concerned. These residents are experiencing no respite in the ENT sphere (otolaryngology). They always have symptoms with a stuffy, runny nose. Recurrent ear infections are also extremely common.
In the longer term, what are the consequences?
Yolaine Ferrier : The main results that have been collected are very “meaningful and solid”, as scientists say. And they worry doctors and residents. For example, we have one and a half times more asthma in adults in these two cities of the study than on average in the French population. There is also nearly twice as much cancer in these inhabitants, when they are alive, than elsewhere in France. Finally, we have twice as much diabetes (all types) and four times as many type 1 diabetes.
Is research on industrial pollution advancing?
Yolaine Ferrier : There are really gray areas in scientific knowledge on industrial pollution. There are huge economic stakes, so researchers are under a lot of pressure. This can be seen at the level of Europe, but also that of France.
The challenge for the future is to build this research with rigorous and therefore relevant results. I remind you that there are many sites where we would like to investigate because the inhabitants are asking questions. Some even complain of effects on their health linked to industrial activity. I am thinking of sites which are not very far from Fos-sur-Mer or in the North of France where conditions are worrying in terms of industrial complexity and the accumulation of pollutants. It is a real public health issue.
(1) This study was carried out between January 2015 and June 2017. It is financed with funds entrusted to the National Agency for Food, Environment and Occupational Health Safety by the AVIESAN Cancer ITMO .
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