Pollution and serious illnesses: What are doctors seeing in Le Havre?

They are the first to see the results Pollution associated with human activity on health : Doctors. Hundred from Le Havre (Seine-Maritime) met in late January to diagnose the current situation and also discuss solutions to health problems arising from environmental influences within the framework of their practice.

The number of cancers linked to pollution is on the rise

Philippe Delebarre, a cardiologist who still practices Heaven Explains: “We have very little local statistics. ARS has some, but the doctor in his office is often alone and his head is in a wheel. For doctors established for more than 30 years, the evolution over time is evident: Pathologies associated with pollution are on the rise in Le Havre. Given the lack of epidemiological studies on this topic locally we cannot say that they are increasing more than elsewhere, but during these days, doctors were unanimous on this observation.

Bronchopulmonary diseases, allergies, but also cancer, infertility and obesity are on the rise. Pollution (endocrine disruption and air pollution by microparticles) has devastating consequences that every doctor can observe in his practice.

High mortality from certain cancers in the Seine-Maritime

At Seine-Maritime, according to Philippe Delebère, “We have higher mortality rates than the national level for breast, colon and rectal cancer in women and prostate cancer in men. Many studies show that these cancers are linked to pollution.

“Bike, vegetable garden, separate house”

Jean-Luc Saladin, only slightly ironic, “In fact, we know the solutions, they are extremely simple: bicycles, vegetable gardens and detached houses”.

If we put all the arable areas of Le Havre into production, we would feed ourselves all year round.

And to support his point, “If we are to act effectively on greenhouse gas emissions there are four areas whose impact must be divided by four:

• Travel by favoring public transport and cycling.
• Diet by banning processed foods and plastic packaging.
• Housing by insulating better and choosing ecological heating methods.
• Production by greening the “energy” offer.

“Very simple solutions, but not acceptable and accepted by all,” the two doctors concluded.

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