How growing up in ‘Chemical Valley’ inspired lawyer to sue industry she used to work for

The Guardian UK Monday 24 August 2026, 12:00 UTC By Pippa Neill 1 min read

Key Points

Hélène Duguy is taking on companies accused of failing to stop Pfas pollution in the area of France she calls homeThe factories were just part of the landscape for Hélène Duguy growing up in the heart of an area known as France’s “Chemical Valley”. “Those factories are visible from my mother’s apartment,” says Duguy, 34, whose mother still lives in St-Genis-Laval, south of Lyon.

Hélène Duguy is taking on companies accused of failing to stop Pfas pollution in the area of France she calls home

The factories were just part of the landscape for Hélène Duguy growing up in the heart of an area known as France’s “Chemical Valley”.

“Those factories are visible from my mother’s apartment,” says Duguy, 34, whose mother still lives in St-Genis-Laval, south of Lyon.

‘Chemical Valley’ (LOCATION) Hélène Duguy (PERSON) France (LOCATION) Chemical (ORG) Duguy (ORG) St-Genis-Laval (LOCATION) Lyon (LOCATION)

Originally published by The Guardian UK Read original →

The average global sea surface temperature outside polar regions reached 21.1°C on Saturday. The world's oceans have reached their highest daily temperature on record, with global sea surface temperatures hitting 21.1°C on 22 August - a new high made particularly striking by the time of year, according to the European Union's climate change data. The reading, recorded by the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service, narrowly surpassed the previous daily record of 21.09°C, set in March 2024.

Euronews 8m ago

4 arrested as Kenya investigates 18 elephant deaths in Amboseli

Police have arrested four suspects in an investigation ⁠into the deaths ⁠of 18 elephants in Kenya’s Amboseli ⁠ecosystem, where authorities also seized assorted substances including chemicals, the tourism and wildlife ministry has said. A Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) spokesperson told Reuters on Monday that the four had since been released on bail. Preliminary laboratory ‌results pointed to the probable involvement of a toxic substance, the ministry said in a statement released on Saturday,...

South China Morning Post 10m ago

Prince Harry parts ways with controversial African wildlife charity ahead of UK return

Prince Harry parts ways with controversial African wildlife charity ahead of UK return Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has stepped down from the board of African Parks after being involved with the charity for 10 years - and is now longer a trustee Prince Harry has stepped down from his role with a controversial African wildlife charity - just days before his return to the UK. The Duke of Sussex, who is due to relocate to his homeland with wife Meghan and their children Prince Archie and...

Daily Mirror 49m ago

World’s oceans hit hottest temperature on record in August

Average sea surface temperature outside polar regions was 21.1C on Saturday, latest data findsThe world’s oceans were hotter than ever previously recorded on Saturday, according to the latest data. The average surface temperature was 21.1C, with the rising marine heat a stark indicator of the climate crisis. More than 90% of the heat trapped by carbon dioxide from fossil fuel burning enters the oceans.

The Guardian UK 1h ago

How growing up in ‘Chemical Valley’ inspired lawyer to sue industry she used to work for

Related Stories

World's oceans hit hottest temperature ever recorded in August as El Niño takes hold

4 arrested as Kenya investigates 18 elephant deaths in Amboseli

Prince Harry parts ways with controversial African wildlife charity ahead of UK return

World’s oceans hit hottest temperature on record in August