A worrying level of lead in schools, children with lead poisoning: the results of two analyzes unveiled this Tuesday, September 27 by the ARS and the Pas-de-Calais prefecture reveal that the surroundings of the Metaleurop factory remain poisoned, twenty years after its closure, arousing the growing concern of local residents.
These analyzes were announced in June by the prefecture, with the aim of "
responding to the concern
" of the population on the health consequences of the operation of this factory which for decades rejected heavy metals (lead and cadmium) in the air.
Read alsoThe state of health of caregivers has worsened
A lead poisoning screening campaign was launched this summer by the Hauts-de-France Regional Health Agency (ARS) in the municipalities of Evin-Malmaison, Courcelles-lès-Lens, Noyelles-Godault, Leforest and Dourges. .
It reveals seven cases of lead poisoning (a lead level greater than 50 µg/litre of blood) and 61 high impregnations (25 to 50 µg/l) out of 889 children tested.
These results remain partial because they only concern 11.7% of the target population, specifies the ARS in its press release on Tuesday.
The families of children with lead poisoning “
were visited at home
” to carry out “
investigations
”, explains the ARS, stressing that for three children, “
at least one other source of potential exposure to lead , related to lifestyle or habitat, has been identified
”.
The families of the 61 children at the high rate will be "
provided with explanations on the possible sources of exposure to lead and recommendations
".
"Prevent access to uncovered floors"
The prefecture, for its part, announced that the lead content in the soil of five surrounding schools (in the first 5 cm) was higher than the limit of 300 mg/kg set by the authorities.
The maximum is 995 mg/kg in the Léon-Blum school in Evin-Malmaison.
Two other schools in the city are concerned, as well as two establishments in Courcelles-lès-Lens.
The authorities recommended "
preventing access to uncovered soil (bare land, lawns) of several spaces which can be heavily frequented by children
", explains the prefecture in its press release.
The mayors of the two municipalities have put in place since the start of the school year "
provisional devices
" to "
prohibit access to these spaces
" and the school principals have informed the families "
about the screening to be carried out
", she adds. .
Read alsoSanté publique France recommends child screening for lead poisoning in certain cities
"
That's what we feared.
It has been said for years that the pollution has not stopped
, ”reacted Tuesday to AFP Bruno Adolphi, president of an association of residents at the origin of a complaint against the State.
“
It is essential to clean the floors in which these heavy metals are found.
»
Their lawyer, Me David Deharbe, who also represents the urban community of Hénin-Carvin, wrote to the prefect of Pas-de-Calais to ask for "
security measures for the children
" and a diagnosis on "
the source of pollution in the soil
”.
"Lack of protection"
A father from Courcelles-lès-Lens told AFP that his 2-year-old son and his 6-year-old daughter were both contaminated, the first at a level above 50?g/l.
He says he received the results by mail, then a phone call from the ARS "
to minimize them
".
"
They made us understand that it was not serious, that there was not too much danger
," he said.
Her children, however, are subject to blood tests every three months.
Lead poisoning, the “
lead disease
”, affects the nervous system, bone marrow and kidneys.
"
As a parent, I feel like I failed to protect myself
," said the 32-year-old, who requested anonymity.
“
We are waiting for (the authorities) to assume their bullshit for having left the land polluted.
»
Read alsoNotre-Dame: victims of lead poisoning call to give up the lead roof
When the Metaleurop factory closed in 2003, the area was considered the most polluted in France.
Five municipalities (24,000 people) have been affected since 1999 by a restriction on land use.
A team from the investigative program "
Vert de rage
", on France 5, which investigated this pollution, estimated at the end of April that 5,815 children could have been affected by lead poisoning between 1962 and 2020, including a hundred for 20 years.
The prefecture then replied that only one case had been recorded for 10 years in the area.
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/FHMSCEHBDRBXBH75XKQKTP6AD4.jpg)
