French doctors warn over tap water pollution risk

Doctors have urged the government to strengthen controls on tap water and promote greater use of organic farming, warning that the population could face a range of health problems unless action is taken.

The advice from the Conférence Nationale des URPS Médecins Libéraux follows research into tap water, which found “massive problems that are too often minimised” by the authorities. It described the pollution as a “systemic threat to public health”.

It follows ongoing concerns about cadmium – a toxic metal linked to a number of illnesses and found in imported mineral phosphate fertilisers used in the cultivation of cereals, potatoes and vegetables.

Health body Santé publique France estimates nearly one in two adults in France have cadmium levels above the recommended threshold.

“After cadmium, there is drinking water,” said Dr Pascal Mayveart, coordinator of the public health committee of the CNURPS-ML, one of France’s largest doctors’ unions.

“They are two faces of the same problem: the silent chemical pollution of the environment that occurs every day. 

“As doctors, we cannot stay silent and just watch what is going on; we have to speak out.”

Research by the working group found that 87% of the tap water network complied with pollution limits during the year to date.

However, the overall figure masked the fact that an estimated 19 million people in France, around 30% of the population, drank water that failed to meet required standards in 2024, the most recent year for which detailed data is available.

When tests on a borehole or river indicate cause for concern, water suppliers generally dilute the affected supply with clean water to ensure pollution levels comply with regulatory standards. However, arranging this process can take time.

The doctors identified three forms of pollution as being of particular concern: PFAS chemicals, which are man-made and do not break down naturally; pesticide residues from agriculture; and microplastics.

On PFAS chemicals, they said France currently tests drinking water for only 20 substances, despite estimates suggesting there may be between 4,000 and 15,000 different compounds within the PFAS family.

Pesticide pollution was assessed via tests at water sources, which in France are typically rivers and boreholes. The findings showed that 14 million people were exposed to concentrations above the recommended maximum levels in 2024.

Studies of drinking water also found microplastics to be widespread throughout the water supply, with an estimated average of 413 particles per litre of tap water.

The doctors said the three pollutants are associated with a range of health risks, including hormonal disorders, neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s, and weakened immune systems.

Tighter legislation needed

The substances have also been linked to cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and fertility problems.

They are calling for new legislation to strengthen water quality controls, expand the range of pollutants routinely monitored, and improve filtration systems at water treatment plants.

More broadly, the doctors are urging the government to adopt stricter regulations on PFAS chemicals and the use of plastics.

The report also calls for greater support for organic farming, arguing that it should be promoted in place of intensive agricultural methods that rely heavily on synthetic chemicals.

“In terms of water quality, we do not need endless new studies,” said Dr Mayveart. “The time has come for practical solutions to be implemented.”

The health ministry did not respond to the CNURPS-ML’s appeal, nor to requests from The Connexion for a comment.

The government has pledged to reduce cadmium levels in fertilisers used by French farmers from 2027, with a target of limiting concentrations to 20mg/kg of fertiliser by 2037. Current permitted levels in France stand at 90mg/kg, above the European Union’s recommended maximum threshold of 60mg/kg.