Intensive agriculture is taking its toll:
The European Commission is planning to punish France hard for not doing enough to stop polluting drink water sources in Brittany. They’re looking at a 28 million euro fine.
For 20 years, the French have been told to reduce nitrate levels in drink water to less than 50mg/l, but Brussels is not impressed with the efforts made so far. In 2001, no less than 37 rivers still contained higher levels. France has now 3 months to come clean or face the fine.
Farmers, who are responsible for the nitrate pollution, showed their anger with Brussels in their own predictable way: by blocking traffic on a motorway with slow-moving tractors.
A report, published today, reveals that the air in the capital is polluted with no less than 30 different types of herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. The density of the pollution is as high as in the agricultural surroundings of Paris. In the center of Paris, 19 pesticides were found.
Farmers in the greater Paris area use 3.200 tonnes of pesticides each year. Between 25% and 70% of those chemicals evaporate, and a large amount ends up in drink water and in agricultural foods. The particles are small enough to penetrate into lungs, and from there into the bloodstream.
An ominous sign: the report was published as part of a broader study into the causes of cancer.
