The mining giant at the centre of an investigation into serious environmental harm
(Rennes, 10 September 2026) – Today, two whistleblowers supported by Climate Whistleblowers (CW) are speaking publicly for the first time about dangerous practices allegedly carried out by Imerys in central Brittany. The multinational mining company is accused of exposing its employees to high concentrations of toxic and carcinogenic dust, according to investigative media outlet SPLANN!. Its new investigation reveals previously unseen documents and videos from the extraction site for andalusite, a mineral used in a wide range of industrial activities involving high temperatures.
The whistleblowers, who worked at Glomel quarry for four months and several decades respectively, now suffer from severe respiratory illnesses. Medical documents establish a link between these diseases and the exposure to andalusite dust. SPLANN! reveals that Imerys exposed its employees and temporary workers at Glomel for years to carcinogenic silica dust, with inadequate protective measures, regulatory limits being exceeded, and inadequate medical monitoring. The mine, located in the rural commune of Glomel (population 1,440), accounts for nearly 25% of global production of the mineral.
44-year-old whistleblower Cédric Gouagout can no longer work due to the serious and irreversible health consequences he suffers as a result of his employment. For several years, Cédric has been involved in legal proceedings to have his illness recognised as work-related and to obtain compensation for the harm suffered.
“What I’m going through is physical hell. I have trouble speaking. I have trouble walking,” Cédric Gouagout told CW. “I had always been fit and healthy. I was happy, I went everywhere, I carried my children, I carried my wife. All of that is over now,”
Read his story or watch his testimony here:
Contacted by Climate Whistleblowers, Imerys said that “the health and safety of our employees and temporary workers, as well as the protection of the environment, are priorities” and that “monitoring of the dust risk is carried out on a regular basis and, where necessary, is accompanied by adjustments to preventive measures and personal protective equipment”. The group declined, however, to comment on an individual case.
“It is unthinkable that in 2026, workers are still being exposed daily to carcinogenic dust when the risks have been clearly identified,” said Henri Thulliez, CW’s Director of Strategy. “We are proud to support these whistleblowers, who are taking personal risks to protect both their former colleagues and the environment.”
A previous investigation by SPLANN! already highlighted environmental negligence on the part of Imerys, as well as serious failures in protecting workers’ health and safety. According to one of the whistleblowers, the company discharged chemicals that could pollute downstream drinking water catchments – which has been reported to authorities. The media outlet had notably revealed the illegal discharge of 3,000 litres of chemicals before carrying out independent analyses of sediments from the Crazius, a stream running alongside the mine. These analyses revealed significant concentrations of several toxic metals, which are harmful to the environment and to the public health of local residents.
In March 2026, the Saint-Brieuc Public Prosecutor’s Office opened a judicial investigation into environmental harm. For many years now, efforts have been mounting to force Imerys to comply with the law. As recently as this summer, two prefectural orders were issued fifteen days apart, requiring Imerys to review its management of mine water and to investigate the causes and impacts of an irregular discharge of acidic water.
These revelations come as the French government is presenting another Imerys lithium mining project in Auvergne as strategically important to the country’s sovereignty.
“This is serious, irresponsible conduct by Imerys. CW calls on the authorities to take this new warning seriously and to protect those who dare to speak out against its illegal practices,” said Gabriel Bourdon-Fattal, CW’s Executive Director.
About Climate Whistleblowers:
Climate Whistleblowers is an NGO dedicated to protecting individuals who expose wrongdoings that worsen the climate crisis and harm the environment, and ensuring their disclosures are impactful. Even a single act of whistleblowing can make all the difference. With individualised support, we believe a new generation of climate whistleblowers can catalyse the change the world desperately needs.
For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact:
- Maria Garriga Zamora, Project officer: +33 7 52 02 46 97
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