Press room

Sanitary and environmental hazards

Industrial pollutants are essentially responsible for neighbourhood pollution which in the first instance affects the health of the population during periods of peak pollution, but also contribute to the deterioration of buildings and in most cases cause bad smells.

The French national strategy, identified as one of the key actions in the National Environmental Health Plan (PNSE) was elaborated by the Pollution and Hazards Prevention Directorate. The intention is to pursue or to initiate a reduction in atmospheric emissions of benzene, cadmium, dioxins, lead, mercury, which are all substances identified by the Orientation Committee. The PNSE is aimed at all piped and diffuse emissions. CTIF has published a guide for evaluating the risks to public health, specifically adapted to the foundry sector.

In the context of the national action for the reduction of pollution by foundries, investigations were conducted in 2002 and 2003 at the initiative of the Ministry for Ecology and Sustainable Development. For recent installations, the action consists in asking operators to evaluate the deviations relative to the good working practices in the sector, in particular with respect to exhausted emissions. Faced with the regulatory requirements and the major uncertainties inherent in the measurement methods applicable to exhausted emissions, CTIF is conducting a project in collaboration with INERIS and ADEME which aims to provide the foundry sector with the means to choose reliable measurement protocols which are recognised at both French national and European levels.