Basta!, an investigative journalism organization, has launched an in-depth probe led by journalist Simon Gouin, focusing on clusters of pediatric cancers in specific regions of France. In Sainte-Pazanne, a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department, parents have expressed deep concern and frustration after Santé publique France, the national public health agency, stopped its research into the causes of their children’s illnesses. More than 20 children in this area and surrounding regions have been diagnosed with cancer. In 2020, the FIVP (Fund for the Compensation of Victims of Pesticides) was created to provide financial compensation to children affected by health issues linked to prenatal exposure to pesticides, particularly when their parents were exposed through their jobs. Research from the University of Picardie revealed that nearly all meconium samples—baby’s first stool—collected from newborns in northern France contained traces of pesticides, indicating exposure in the womb through the placenta. Eleven types of insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides were identified in these samples, some of which are linked to birth defects like hypospadias, a condition affecting the urinary system. Notably, one of these substances is still legally approved for use in France. In the French overseas territories of Martinique and Guadeloupe, the pesticide chlordécone—banned in France in 1993—continues to contaminate the environment. Studies show that 85.5% of Martinicans and 81.3% of Guadeloupeans have been exposed to the chemical, which is still found in the umbilical cord blood of newborns. Despite the ban, exposure is nearly unavoidable in these regions, as noted by Martinique researcher Malcom Ferdinand in a 2026 conference. France is the leading pesticide user in Europe, applying over 65,000 tons of chemical treatments annually. More than 300 active pesticide ingredients are currently authorized in France, some of which are not approved at the European level and require special exemptions. These substances are not always targeted in their effects, and their breakdown products can remain in the environment for many years. A 2025 study, Pestiriv, found that children living in viticultural (wine-growing) areas have high pesticide exposure, with residues detected in their urine and hair. Conventional apple orchards, for example, receive an average of 26 pesticide treatments per growing season. A 2018 study by Inrae, France’s national agricultural research institute, found that long-term exposure to low doses of a mix of six pesticides used in orchards can have measurable health effects. The World Health Organization notes that food is a major route of pesticide exposure, with fruits like oranges, table grapes, and strawberries showing high levels of pesticide residues. However, current regulations only set limits for individual pesticides, not for the combined effects of exposure to multiple substances at once. Toxicologist Xavier Coumoul has warned that repeated low-dose exposure could pose health risks, especially for young children whose bodies are still developing the ability to process and eliminate toxins. Doctors and researchers have called for preventive measures, including promoting "green prescriptions" that provide pregnant women with free access to organic food. The investigation was prompted by a former farmer who became concerned about children suffering from cancer in 2019. Families of affected children and medical professionals have shared their struggles in recognizing and compensating for health issues caused by pesticide exposure. The book-investigation Pesticides Kids aims to raise awareness about the impact of pesticide use on children's health and advocate for a shift toward more sustainable agricultural practices.