Air Pollution: Pesticides Detected in Plaine de l'Aunis

Measurements of phytosanitary products have revealed the presence of several substances, including some banned ones, in the region's air.

Aerial view of agricultural fields in Nouvelle-Aquitaine with a slight haze.
AI

Aerial view of agricultural fields in Nouvelle-Aquitaine with a slight haze.

The Agglomeration Community has expanded its air quality monitoring system in the Plaine de l'Aunis, with two new measurement sites installed in 2025 in Saint-Vivien and L’Houmeau, complementing the existing one in Montroy.

Since 2019, the Agglomeration Community has been collaborating with Atmo Nouvelle-Aquitaine to annually assess the presence of phytosanitary products in the air of the Plaine de l'Aunis. The study conducted in the autumn of 2025 detected several substances, primarily herbicides commonly used in local agriculture, such as prosulfocarb and pendimethalin. Concentrations vary depending on the geographical areas.
Molecules for which agricultural use is banned were also identified, like lindane, albeit at very low levels, close to detection limits.
The complete results of this monitoring are available on the Atmo Nouvelle-Aquitaine website. They will also be shared during three public meetings dedicated to the affected municipalities: on Monday, October 5th in Saint-Vivien (6:30 PM), Tuesday, October 6th in Montroy (6:30 PM), and Wednesday, October 7th in L’Houmeau (6:30 PM).
Based on information from the official source: Mairie de Saint-Rogatien (07/10/2026)