What if the burial of nuclear waste in Bure threatened the health of local residents? Without going so far as to imagine the worst, what could be the consequences of any emanations, even small and slow, rising from the basement? And what about the stress of living close to such a centre? Admittedly, the Cigéo project, aiming to store the most dangerous radioactive waste in galleries built 500 m underground, is not yet authorised. But already, the actors of the territory anticipate potential harmful effects on their health.
Called for by opponents since 1999, an observatory is in the process of being structured, with the assistance of the health authorities and the prefectures concerned.
Called Observatory for the health of residents living near the Bure disposal center project (Osarib), it is coordinated by the CLIS, the independent association responsible for circulating information on Cigéo, on which sit representatives of the State, elected officials, as well as heads of associations or professional organisations. Objective: to monitor the physical and psychological health of the inhabitants within a radius of 25 km (6,000 people spread over 180 municipalities) and within a radius of 50 km (340,000 inhabitants living in 679 municipalities), and compare them with a control territory.
A photograph of the health of local residents
This will involve questioning residents about their perception of their health and comprehensively reporting hospitalization data, long-term illnesses, treatments and work stoppages. The interviews, conducted with 900 people selected at random, are about to begin, the challenge being to obtain a snapshot of the current health of local residents. This “zero state” will serve as a benchmark for similar surveys to be conducted at regular intervals.
According to Public Health France, this global and long-term epidemiological surveillance of a territory, which moreover is around an industrial site, is a first. “This will reassure the population,” hopes the prefect of the Meuse, Pascale Trimbach. Jean-Marc Fleury, opponent and initiator of the project, sees even further. “I hope it will never be used, but in the event of a problem, it will be essential for potential victims to obtain compensation for the damage in court. » The fact remains that the observatory, still without its own legal form or guaranteed budget for a long period, will only be able to play its role if it still exists in 100, 500, 1,000 years, and more.