Chlordecone in the French West Indies: building a One Health approach

“One Health”, in other words the interconnection between human, animal and environmental health, was the theme chosen for the opening of the scientific conference “Chlordecone: understanding and taking action” in Martinique on 23 June. It is also the subtitle of a new book on the subject, published by Quae, which was made available during the conference and is now freely accessible online.

A scientific conference to share knowledge and drive action at every level

Organised by the National Scientific Steering Committee (CPSN) with the support of the Prefecture of Martinique as part of the Chlordecone Strategy, this conference held from 23 to 25 June 2026 brought together nearly 300 researchers who are actively working in the various fields of scientific research related to chlordecone.

On 26 June, members of the public were invited to visit the Chlor’acteurs Village to learn about the risks associated with chlordecone and how to protect themselves, and to find out about the support available.

A book promoting a One Health approach to chlordecone exposure

Coordinated by the National Scientific Steering Committee (CPSN) as part of the Chlordecone Strategy, this book examines the impacts and challenges of chlordecone pollution in the French West Indies, together with the public measures introduced to limit exposure and to manage the associated risks.

Chlordecone, an organochlorine insecticide that is now banned, was used extensively in banana plantations in the French West Indies between 1972 and 1993, and persists in soils, ecosystems and the food chain. This collective multidisciplinary book presents the latest scientific knowledge on the subject. It draws lessons for the future, with the goal of promoting a “One Health” approach to address the challenges posed by this unprecedented health and environmental crisis.

The book is intended for scientists, teachers, policymakers, professionals or members of associations seeking a deeper understanding of the different pathways through which people are exposed to this widespread contamination, and those looking for long-term solutions to protect the health of populations and ecosystems in the French West Indies.

About the coordinators:

• Magalie Jannoyer is an agronomist and researcher at CIRAD, and has been working on the issue of chlordecone pollution since 2005, contributing to tools to characterise and manage pollution at different scales as part of the national Chlordecone action plans. In order to update research priorities and systems, she leads scientific networks in connection with stakeholders in the French West Indies (CLoReCA) and is a member of the CPSN. In addition to her role in the scientific coordination of the book, Magalie Jannoyer contributed to Chapters 5 and 9, which examine, respectively, the assessment of contamination risks for ecosystems and humans, and tools and solutions to reduce exposure through soils, water and food.
• Pierre Benoit is a soil scientist and researcher at INRAE, in the Joint Research Unit on Functional Ecology and Ecotoxicology of Agroecosystems (EcoSys). He studies the interaction of biophysical and biochemical processes involved in the fate and transfer of organic contaminants in soils. He has been a member of the National Scientific Steering Committee (CPSN) for the national Chlordecone plan since 2020, having coordinated the scientific advisory and monitoring group for Plans II and III since 2011.
• A political philosopher and environmental engineer, Malcom Ferdinand is a CNRS researcher whose work explores the challenges of ecological preservation in the context of the legacies of colonisation and modern slavery. Since 2011, he has been developing an interdisciplinary analysis of chlordecone in the French West Indies. He was a member of the CPSN until 2025 and co-leads several research programmes on this topic.
• Jeanne Garric is an ecotoxicology researcher who served as Deputy Scientific Director of the Water Department at IRSTEA (now INRAE) until 2019. As Emeritus Research Director and adviser on health and environment at the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, she implemented the research strategy for Chlordecone Plan IV between 2020 and 2023, with the establishment of the CPSN and the monitoring of its work.

About the book:

The book examines four broad categories of issues that have arisen for both research and action since the beginning of this crisis. These span environmental, food and health concerns, as well as the management of the crisis by policymakers at both the national and territorial levels:

1. Measurement and characterisation of pollution processes in the context of widespread, persistent contamination.
2. Impacts and risk assessment;
3. Tools for risk management and action in the field;
4. Lessons from the chlordecone crisis for public action and future research.

Contents:

1. Chlordecone contamination of the environment: origins, findings and initial management measures
2. Analytical challenges for quantifying and monitoring contamination and assessing remediation solutions
3. What systems are needed to observe, understand and quantify the long-term trajectories of soil and water contamination?
4. Perceptions, experiences and knowledge of chlordecone pollution and the associated health risks: the contribution of the social sciences
5. The assessment of contamination risks for ecosystems and humans: processes, impacts and methodologies
6. How can the vulnerability of ecosystems be taken into account?
7. How can the vulnerability of the populations of the French West Indies be taken into account?
8. Management of chlordecone pollution in the French West Indies and the associated risks: a complex challenge
9. What tools and solutions to reduce exposure through soils, water and food? 
10. Communication approaches to the chlordecone crises in Guadeloupe and Martinique — Power, public communication and mediation
11. Construction of the public issue and reception of public policies on chlordecone in the French West Indies (1968–2023)
12. How can data availability and use evolve towards a more integrated approach to chlordecone exposure?
13. Conclusion: what are the priorities for future research?