Key Points

This epidemiological report presents the initial descriptive results of the lead poisoning screening campaign conducted among children living near the former MetalEurop lead smelter between June 15, 2022, and November 6, 2022.

• 7,752 children living near the former MetalEurop plant invited for screening

• 1,878 initial blood lead level tests performed on children aged 0 to 17

• 8 children with blood lead levels ≥ 50 μg/L: 8 cases of childhood lead poisoning

• 83 children with blood lead levels ≥ 25 μg/L, corresponding to the warning threshold

• Prevalence of lead poisoning among children aged 0 to 6 comparable to that estimated in the general population in metropolitan France

• Average lead exposure levels lower than those estimated in the general population at the national and regional levels