Réindustrialisation Fos Berre : adapter la surveillance de la qualité de l’air est impératif !

The industrial landscape of the Fos-sur-Mer and Berre region, long considered the heart of France’s petrochemical and logistics infrastructure, is currently undergoing a massive transformation. As the French government pushes for rapid reindustrialization and aggressive decarbonization—often framed as the "Green Industrial Revolution"—a coalition of environmental NGOs and public health advocates has sounded an alarm. They argue that the current framework for monitoring air quality is fundamentally ill-equipped to handle the cumulative health risks posed by this renewed industrial density.

The core of the dispute lies in a significant disconnect: while authorities champion new, "green" industrial projects, local associations maintain that the existing air-monitoring network is outdated, under-resourced, and incapable of detecting the specific, often invisible, pollutants that threaten the health of the surrounding population.

A Chronology of Declining Oversight

The monitoring infrastructure in the Fos-Berre area has undergone a quiet but drastic erosion over the past decade and a half. Between 2011 and 2025, a total of 24 fixed monitoring stations were decommissioned in the western part of the Bouches-du-Rhône department. This region, which serves as the primary hub for both existing heavy industry and the proposed new projects, has seen a thinning of its sensor density just as industrial activity is slated to expand.

Historical data suggests that this period was marked by a shift in regulatory strategy, moving away from localized, high-density sensor networks toward more centralized, generalized reporting. However, for residents of the Fos-Berre zone, the reduction in physical monitoring points has translated into a diminished ability to pinpoint local pollution peaks, especially during meteorological conditions that trap pollutants near the ground.

The Blind Spots: Ultra-Fine Particles and Chemical Cocktails

The scientific community increasingly views standard air quality measurements—which focus largely on bulk indicators like PM10 (particulate matter under 10 micrometers)—as insufficient. The local coalition points to three specific technical shortcomings in the current surveillance regime:

1. Ultra-Fine Particles (UFP): These particles, which penetrate deep into the bloodstream and are capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier, remain largely unmonitored. Despite being identified as among the most hazardous components of industrial emissions, there is no comprehensive, real-time tracking of UFP concentrations in the industrial corridors of Fos-sur-Mer.
2. The PFAS Gap: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as "forever chemicals," are increasingly recognized for their toxicity. Current monitoring protocols in the region lack specific and permanent tracking of these substances, despite their known accumulation in local water, soil, and human tissue.
3. The Lumping Effect: Authorities frequently report data based on annual averages. Health experts and environmental groups argue that these averages "smooth out" the data, effectively hiding the reality of acute, high-exposure events that occur during operational anomalies or specific weather patterns. For a resident, the average annual exposure is less relevant to their health than a sudden, intense spike in toxic gases that occurs over several hours.

The Conflict of Studies: SCENARII 2, REVELA 13, and BIS

The debate over public health is further complicated by a proliferation of scientific studies, each using different methodologies and reaching different conclusions.

• SCENARII 2: This study evaluates theoretical health risks based on emissions declarations provided by the industrial operators themselves. Critics argue that this methodology is fundamentally flawed because it relies on self-reported data rather than actual, real-world monitoring of human health outcomes.
• REVELA 13: This epidemiological study focused on specific cancers—namely kidney, bladder, and acute leukemia—among the adult population. While valuable, its narrow scope has drawn criticism for failing to capture the broader, more complex health landscape of the region, such as respiratory conditions, neurodegenerative disorders, and cardiovascular issues.
• BIS (Bassins Industriels et Santé): Conducted by Santé Publique France, this study focused on a limited radius around emission sources. While it provided insights into respiratory pathologies, it has been criticized for failing to account for the "exposome"—the totality of environmental exposures an individual experiences over their lifetime.

Local associations, including the Association Santé Environnement France and France Nature Environnement PACA, emphasize that the current research fails to satisfy the concerns of the Commission Particulière du Débat Public (CPDP). They assert that these studies do not establish a clear diagnostic of the population’s health, nor do they offer a pathway to mitigate the risks inherent in the massive industrial expansion currently underway.

The "One Health" Disconnect

A central pillar of the environmentalists’ argument is the adoption of the "One Health" approach, a concept recognized by the French state that acknowledges the inextricable link between human health, animal health, and the health of the ecosystems they share.

The current industrial strategy for the region has been criticized for ignoring the potential for bioaccumulation, the impact of industrial encroachment on biodiversity, and the risk of zoonotic diseases resulting from habitat destruction. By failing to integrate these factors into the environmental impact assessments for new projects, the government is accused of ignoring the cumulative, synergistic effects of pollutants.

Emerging research increasingly links air pollution to a wider spectrum of diseases than previously thought, including neurodegeneration, pancreatic cancers, and complications in pregnancy. Despite this, these specific health indicators are not currently being investigated in the context of the Fos-Berre industrial activity, creating a significant gap between scientific progress and regulatory oversight.

Silence from the Authorities

The frustration of the local population is compounded by a perceived lack of transparency and communication from the state. Formal requests for dialogue, including a letter sent to the regional prefect on March 24th and a subsequent inquiry from European Parliament member Nora Mebarek on May 6th, have reportedly gone unanswered.

For the coalition of ten signing organizations, this silence is paradoxical. If the reindustrialization of the zone is truly meant to be a model of modern, virtuous, and sustainable development, they argue that the transparency of its environmental monitoring should be held to the highest standard.

Recommendations for a Sustainable Future

To bridge the gap between industrial ambition and public safety, the coalition is calling for a major overhaul of the region’s monitoring infrastructure. Their proposal includes:

• The Establishment of Real-Time, Continuous Monitoring: A shift away from retrospective analysis toward real-time, transparent data that allows the public to be informed of air quality status immediately.
• Inclusion of Emerging Pollutants: The systematic and permanent monitoring of PFAS, heavy metals like cadmium, and ultra-fine particles.
• Multidisciplinary Oversight: The creation of a permanent forum that brings together industrial actors, public health agencies, environmental scientists, and local residents to define monitoring requirements.
• Beyond Averages: A move toward high-resolution data that captures peak exposure events rather than relying on annual averages that mask the reality of environmental health risks.

Broader Implications

The situation in Fos-sur-Mer serves as a microcosm of the tension currently defining Europe’s industrial policy. As countries scramble to reduce dependence on foreign energy and manufacturing, they face the dual challenge of reviving their industrial base while adhering to increasingly stringent environmental and health standards.

If the "Green Industrial Revolution" is to succeed in the eyes of the public, the case of Fos-sur-Mer demonstrates that technological innovation in manufacturing processes must be matched by equal innovation in environmental monitoring and public health oversight. Without such alignment, the suspicion and distrust of local communities will likely remain a significant obstacle to the success of these large-scale industrial projects. The path forward, according to the residents and scientists involved, is not to halt development, but to ensure that the health of the population is treated as a core component of the infrastructure itself, rather than an afterthought.