What sewers say about us

“ Sewers are the mirror image of what happens on the surface. ”

  • Publish On 14 May 2024
  • Catherine Carré, Thomas Thiebault
  • 25 minutes

Did you know that we have a lot to learn from sewers? Sewers contain numerous chemical indicators that provide information about the practices of people living above ground, such as the use of medicines and drugs, diet and the state of intestinal flora. By focusing on the city of Paris, the EGOUTS (sewers) research project, funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR), is seeking to shed light on public policy ‘through the dark side of the City of Light’.

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“ Sewers are the mirror image of what happens on the surface. ”

What sewers say about us

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“ Sewers are the mirror image of what happens on the surface. ”


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Did you know that we have a lot to learn from sewers? Sewers contain numerous chemical indicators that provide information about the practices of people living above ground, such as the use of medicines and drugs, diet and the state of intestinal flora. By focusing on the city of Paris, the EGOUTS (sewers) research project, funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR), is seeking to shed light on public policy ‘through the dark side of the City of Light’.

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