Exposome Meetings: Health and Water Quality
In France, tap water is one of the most strictly regulated food products. Its quality is subject to regular health monitoring, from the source to the tap, to ensure that it meets quality standards and is safe for human consumption.
The second session of the Exposome Meetings was thus dedicated to the links between health and water quality.
It brought together the perspectives of:
- Patrick Allard, a toxicologist at the Institute for Society and Genetics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), who received support from the ExposUM Institute for an exploratory mission in the Montpellier region.
- Elena Gomez: professor at the University of Montpellier and researcher in environmental chemistry, specializing in risk assessment and the fate of emerging organic contaminants.
- Lionel Villa, Chief Operating Officer of the Montpellier Métropole Water Authority
- Yannick Duran, head of the shared Water Unit at the Occitanie Regional Health Agency
Complementary Expertise to Ensure Water Quality
Many stakeholders are working together to ensure water quality and limit the presence of pollutants. In his presentation, Patrick Allard discusses the research he conducted in Montpellier through interviews with local stakeholders involved in water management.
You can find Patrick Allard’s various presentations from seminars organized by the ExposUM Institute via this link .
Water Pollution: What Are We Talking About?
During the roundtable discussion, the speakers addressed, among other topics, the various contaminants that may be present in water, including PFAS, persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) pollutants, and vinyl chloride monomer (VCM).
Spotlight on Occitanie
While water quality in France is generally very good, this is also true in Occitanie. Monitoring efforts involve water system operators and the Regional Health Agency (ARS), which conducts tests at various stages, from the water intake to the consumer’s faucet.
View the water quality maps for Occitanie
For more information:
- To find out about the quality of your tap water: https://sante.gouv.fr/sante-et-environnement/eaux/eau
- The “Lyzo” app lets you check water quality in your municipality.
The ExposUM Institute funds projects exploring the links between health and water quality
Spotlight on the Nexus EXPO-PMT doctoral project, funded by the ExposUM Institute and co-funded by the Water Authority and BRL.
Expo-PMT is structured around three research projects, each led by a doctoral student from a different discipline and institution. This approach provides complementary perspectives on a single issue: the study of emerging pollutants known as PMTs (Persistent, Mobile, and Toxic) found in water intended for human consumption.
Thus, the three theses that make up this project make it possible to:
- Detecting contaminants: developing methods to measure their presence at very low concentrations.
- Assess their effects: study their toxicity to better understand the potential risks to human health and the environment.
- Shining a light on public policy: generating knowledge that is useful for water resource management and public policy development.
Explore all the “health and water quality” projects funded by the ExposUM Institute.