Living with Chlordecone: an Opportunity-based Co-construction – LiCOCO

The LiCOCO project takes a multidisciplinary approach to address the complex challenges posed by chlordecone in the French West Indies. By mobilizing the diverse skills of the consortium members, particularly in biology, chemistry, law, economics, political science, information and communication sciences, and sociology, the project aims to provide holistic and innovative solutions to understand, mitigate and prevent the impacts of this toxic pesticide on the environment and public health.

The methods and approaches of the LiCOCO project are structured around five complementary work packages (WP). WP1 is dedicated to the general coordination and management of the project, ensuring effective collaboration between partners and guaranteeing the achievement of the set objectives. WP2 focuses on ecotoxicological and legal studies of the cocktail effects of chlordecone (CLD) on ecosystems. Through multi-scale approaches, studies will be carried out on model organisms to evaluate the cocktail effects of environmental concentrations of CLD combined with its main transformation products, as well as with the main pesticides present in surface and marine waters. Biological models will be developed to better understand biological responses.

At the same time, WP3 will examine the state of knowledge on chlordecone and its impact on fauna, flora and the local population. These studies will serve as a basis for formulating effective prevention policies and developing tools aimed at restoring trust between public authorities and affected populations. Additionally, WP4 will focus on innovation for water decontamination, studying the economic accessibility of these technologies and reflecting on environmental monitoring and decontamination infrastructure. Finally, WP5 will provide scientific mediation to disseminate the results of the project to the general public, in partnership with local actors experienced in scientific mediation.

Overall, the LiCOCO project's methods and approaches aim to integrate scientific, legal, economic and social knowledge to holistically address the challenges posed by chlordecone in the French Antilles. By combining cutting-edge research, community participation and policy development, the project aspires to create a sustainable and healthy future for local people, while building trust between citizens and public authorities.

LiCOCO aims to produce several significant results in the fight against chlordecone pollution and its impacts. First of all, we hope to elucidate the impacts of chlordecone on the environment and on human health, with emphasis on the cocktail effects with other pesticides still in circulation. Through in-depth ecotoxicological studies, we aim to better understand how these substances interact and their consequences on fauna, flora and local populations. This approach also integrates legal, economic and sociological perspectives.

The project should make it possible to develop communication tools and strategies to restore trust between public authorities and the local population, taking into account the different discourses and representations associated with chlordecone pollution. Additionally, specific policy recommendations will be formulated based on the research findings, aiming to inform decision-makers on best practices for pollution prevention and management. On a technical level, the project should also lead to innovations in water decontamination and reflections on the economic feasibility of these solutions, with particular emphasis on financial accessibility for local industries.

The project should help raise awareness among the general public of the issues of chlordecone pollution and promote a better understanding of the associated risks, while encouraging community engagement and citizen mobilization for sustainable solutions. In sum, the expected results of the LiCOCO project should provide a solid basis for concrete actions aimed at mitigating the effects of chlordecone pollution and promoting environmental and human health.

Furthermore, we seek to identify the best practices for decontaminating water contaminated by chlordecone, by developing economically accessible technological innovations for effective and sustainable decontamination. We also want to assess the feasibility of transforming this research into a zero-chlordecone industry, thus offering concrete solutions for a healthier future.

Finally, we aim to widely disseminate our results and knowledge, working in close collaboration with partners specializing in scientific mediation. By raising awareness of the issues surrounding chlordecone and promoting the solutions proposed, we hope to mobilize the whole of society for a transition towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.

The potential applications and original research avenues that could emerge from the LiCOCO project are numerous. First, the results of the study on the effects of chlordecone could lead to more specific policy recommendations regarding pesticide regulation and management of contaminated water resources. New water decontamination technologies could be developed, offering more effective and economically viable solutions to combat chlordecone pollution. Innovative methods developed for water decontamination could be extended to other areas affected by similar pollutants. For example, bioremediation techniques could be adapted to treat other persistent organic contaminants.

Furthermore, the analysis of political, scientific and popular discourses on chlordecone pollution could reveal gaps in communication between public authorities and the local population. This could pave the way for further research into environmental communication and how information about environmental risks is transmitted and perceived by different stakeholders.

Assessing the socio-economic impact of chlordecone pollution could shed light on previously little explored aspects, such as the consequences on tourism, agriculture or local industries. This could spark interest in further studies on the adaptation and resilience strategies of communities affected by pollution.

The results of the project could be used to raise public awareness of the dangers of chlordecone and the importance of environmental protection. Education programs could be implemented in schools and communities to promote sustainable agricultural and environmental practices.

Forthcoming

Due to its toxic and persistent nature, chlordecone has permanently poisoned the soil, groundwater, rivers, livestock and even humans. This widespread pollution has resulted in a resurgence of cancers and significant economic. All this has contributed to a social climate of mistrust and distrust of the French government. Various plans have been put in place by the public authorities to limit contamination and exposure to chlordecone. By bringing together researchers from various disciplines, LiCOCO project intends through an integrative transdisciplinary approach to question and imagine what it is to live with chlordecone and to develop possible solutions from the point of view of public policies to this pollution. This project will review the state of the knowledge on chlordecone and its impacts; this is an essential step in order to understand how the government should envisage its prevention policy. LiCOCO will develop tools to restore trust between public authorities and populations by reappropriating the different discourses (political, scientific and lay people) and the representations that the different layers of the population have on this pollution; from this, will emerge the tracks of effective public policies of prevention. LiCOCO will make it possible to realize that dealing with the generalized pollution should not be limited to chlordecone alone but should also encompass other pesticides that are still in use. LiCOCO will develop an innovation for water decontamination whose economic accessibility will be a definite booster for the development of a zero chlordecone sector. LiCOCO will examine the monitoring infrastructure, the follow-up of environmental (de)contamination and the promise of remediation of chlordecone toxicity. LiCOCO will provide operational tools that will enable the population, public authorities and stakeholders in the fishing, agriculture and livestock sectors to better co-construct and envisage life with chlordecone.