Several hundred environmental activists from Exctintion Rebellion and the Youth for Climate collective entered by force, Saturday March 3 afternoon, the site of the chemist Arkema’s factory in Pierre-Bénite (Rhône), to denounce pollution in perfluorochemicals (PFAS) – also called “eternal pollutants” – noted an Agence France-Presse (AFP) journalist on site.
More than 300 people took part in this punchy action, according to the spokesperson for the organizers. Some arrived by train, others by bus. At the end of this action, the Rhône prefecture, which counted 150 demonstrators, reported eight arrests.
Wearing white overalls, the activists cut the entrance fences to the site to gain entry. They then unfurled two banners inside the platform. One of them read the word “poison” topped with a skull, while the walls were sprayed with the words “PFAS tell the truth!” », “Arkemagouilles” or even “Arkema is poisoning us”.
“We condemn such an act, which not only seriously disrupts the work of more than 500 employees, but can also put employees and demonstrators in danger, due to the industrial activity of the site, which is classified Seveso », Declared Pierre Clousier, director of the site, in a press release.
“Alarming” concentration levels
After the broadcast of several journalistic investigations in 2022, the regional authorities launched checks, in particular from the regional health agency (ARS), which put online in mid-January the result of an analysis of the waters of consumption.
In recent months, several communities and individuals have launched collective complaints for “endangering the lives of others” by worrying about “alarming concentrations” of PFAS linked to industrial sites in the chemical valley, located in the Rhône south of Lyon, where the Arkema site is located.
This action comes as the chemist Daikin, also based in Pierre-Bénite, received authorization to build a new production unit, arousing the anger of residents.
PFAS, poly- and perfluoroalkyl compounds (a family of more than 4,700 molecules), have non-stick and waterproof properties and are massively present in everyday life: Teflon pans, food packaging, waterproof textiles, automobiles, etc.
Almost indestructible, they accumulate over time in the air, soil, river water, food, and even in the human body, hence their nickname “eternal” pollutants. If exposed over a long period, they can have effects on fertility or promote certain cancers, according to initial studies.
Arkema specifies in this press release on Saturday that its Pierre-Bénite site will be able to manufacture its products without any use of fluorinated additives by the end of 2024.