Francesca Biagioli The story of Emmy Marivain, the first child whose death was recognized by the Pesticide Victims Compensation Fund as a result of early exposure to pesticides
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Emmy Marivain, an 11-year-old girl, died from pesticide poisoning she had carried in her body since before birth.
In January 2015, when she was only four years old, she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. From that moment on, her life and that of her family turned into a nightmare: Emmy went through periods of remission and relapse, and spent altogether 468 days in the hospital.
In spite of everything being done and expected, Emmy died on March 12, 2022. Her death impelled her mother, Laure Marivain, to raise the awareness of pesticide exposure being linked to her daughter’s illness.
Laure became pregnant while working as a florist, coming into contact with flowers and plants treated with pesticides, many banned in the European Union. She frequently handled toxic chemicals, knowing nothing of the danger to herself and her baby.
Florists, Laure noted, often handle plants without protective gear and get pricked by thorns; such pesticides can enter the bloodstream faster through such injuries.
Laure said doctors initially told her that it was just bad luck that Emmy was sick. But she did research on her own and started to question that theory.
Having to utter those fateful words must have been a heavy burden on her heart: “If someone had warned me, my daughter would still be here“.
Deep guilt and powerlessness form the core of such utterances; unfortunately, they also point out serious lack of information regarding the risks florists and their families are exposed to.
A call for better regulation
Laure pointed out the minimal legislation on the use of pesticides in flowers, and she warned that too few people in the trade are ignorant of the fact that their work can have disastrous health effects-not just for themselves but also for their children.
This testimony is in honor of Emmy’s memory, but at the same time, it is an appeal for measures to protect the workers of this hazardous industry.
On October 9, 2024, Laure testified before the Rennes Court of Appeal, stating, “The thought of living without her is unbearable. I want things to change so no other family will have to live this nightmare.”
Death of Emmy recognized by Pesticide Victims Compensation Fund
Emmy Marivain became the first child whose death was officially recognized by the FIVP-a fund created in France to compensate people suffering from pesticide-related diseases-officially linking said diseases to toxic chemicals.
The FIVP found a link in Emmy’s illness due to her prenatal pesticide exposure; this is a big step to set a precedent for families dealing with similar situations.
It was offering only about $26,500, to each parent for such a serious case, while the family of Marivain has vigorously objected to this compensation, stating that such an amount does not even begin to describe the incredible pain and suffering Emmy and her loved ones have had to go through over the years.
The final decision will be taken on December 4, but until then, Emmy’s mother has been quoted as saying:
“We are not motivated by the money factor at all. Holding your dead child in your arms has no price. We just hope our daughter’s rights are not violated and no family has to go through what we are going through.
Source: Le Monde
