FR / PFAS: The UN expresses its "deepest concern about the harmful effects" in France's Chemical Valley

"We express our deepest concern about the adverse effects on human rights of the activities of Arkema France and Daikin Chemicals France on the populations concerned in the departments of Rhône, Loire and Isère", state the "allegation letter" of human rights violations from four UN Special Rapporteurs and the Working Group on Business and Human Rights, made public on 12/05/2026.

These letters, sent to Arkema France, Daikin Chemicals and the French government, follow a complaint sent on 30/07/2025 by the association Notre Affaire à Tous to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and toxic products, Marcos Orellana.

In this letter, the association warned of "the numerous human rights violations suffered by the residents of the French Chemical Valley (along the Rhône river, near Lyon, where many chemical factories are settled) as a result of the heavy PFAS contamination of their territory".

In their response, the four special rapporteurs (on toxic substances, on the environment, on water and sanitation, and on food) and the working group state that "the high concentrations…