A committee of scientists of the epidemiologists, the oncologists and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) launched a public awareness campaign on the dangers of poorly filtered drinking water for the people suffering from cancer.

If the tap water is in general of good quality (92% on average according to the committee), the water of certain rivers is however polluted by the agricultural pesticides. These chemicals are bad for people in frail health, especially those suffering from cancer.

Dr. David Servan-Schreiber, who started the campaign, explains that in 2007 more than five million people were exposed to too high nitrate levels. Studies have shown the impact of a too high rate of nitrates on the risk of cancer. Dr. Servan-Schreiber adds that certain waters contain very high levels of pesticides and drug residues, capable of developing a disease.

In some rivers nearby hospitals, there are drug residues from the urine of patients. This problem is relatively new in France, the filtration processes of these residues are not yet fully developed across the country. Dr. Servan-Schreiber explains that the consequences of mixing drugs are not yet known and should arouse suspicion.

Without being alarmist, WWF urges the French to ask their council on water quality, or even ask for analysis. If the water is good, but do not worry if it is polluted, people suffering from cancer will have to filter it, or turn to the bottled mineral water, whose purity is controlled.