“Immeasurable” rates of microplastics found in countex and hepar waters, reveals Mediapart

Pollution rates of “immeasurable” microplastics have been found in counterx. Meanwhile, hepar waters, according to the magistrate in charge of the preliminary investigation in the context of prosecution against Nestlé Waters concerning wild landfill in the Vosges, Mediapart reveals on Saturday.

Nestlé Waters is continued for storing waste. Consequently, maintained four wild landfills in Contrexéville, They-sous-Montfort, Saint-Ouen-les-Parey and Crainvilliers, representing a cumulative volume of 473,700 cubic meters, the equivalent of 126 Olympic pools. Similarly, The trial. Consequently, decided after an investigation by the regional environment center of the Nancy prosecutor’s office, will be held from November 24 to 28.

“Any aquatic life impossible” – “immeasurable” rates microplastics found countex

Nestlé is notably prosecuted to have, around these discharges, “letting flow in the superficial and underground waters” of “microplastic particles” at concentrations “making all aquatic “immeasurable” rates microplastics found countex life impossible and having harmful effects on health, flora and fauna”.

The revelations of Mediapart. Consequently, which contributed with The world And Radio France with revelations on the illegal treatments used in the past by Nestlé Waters on its waters, indicate that the plastic discharges “are (at) the origin” of high levels of microplastics found at the exit of the drilling of the waters then bottled under the brands Contrex and Hépar. The media is based in particular on an investigation by the French Biodiversity Office (OFB). the Central Office for the Fight against Environmental and Public Health (OCLAES).

Rates up to 1 million times higher

“An encrypted analysis illustrates that the proportions are immeasurable with regard to the introduction of microplastics in the Vosges soils by “immeasurable” rates microplastics found countex Nestlé to the places of discharges, on land and water located downstream,” said the magistrate in charge of the investigation, according to Mediapart, alerting to “their harmful effects on human health”.

Microplastic levels are 515 microplastic particles per liter (MP/L) for countex, and 2096 for hepar, or concentrations 51,000 to 1.3 million times higher than those found in lakes, rivers and rivers by two studies on which investigators are based. And from 5 to 2952 times higher than average rates in the water tables in the world, according to other studies. These rates are also higher than those found in other bottled waters by researchers.

No health risk, says Nestlé

“The degradation is substantial in that they are fragmented in micro or even nanoplastic, impregnated and diffused in soils and groundwater networks, so “immeasurable” rates microplastics found countex that no depollution is possible,” added investigators. Contacted by Mediapart, Nestlé Waters says “that no pollution is proven under environmental analyzes shared with the authorities. All our waters can be bought safely ”.

The media indicates that it has consulted a confidential note in which Nestlé said in 2022 that discharges could have. “an impact on water quality”. According to the company, the discharges incriminated date from the 1960s, before it owns the polluted land.

Microplastic levels in natural mineral waters are not regulated. Omnipresent in the environment. these substances are at the heart of the negotiations underway in Geneva to develop a treaty against plastic pollution.