Discovery of lead in the paint of a Montpellier nursery: the structure closed to carry out work

La crèche Edelweiss restera fermée pendant quelques semaines. DR – Google Street View

Following the discovery of lead in some of the paint in the Edelweiss nursery, the City closed the facility this Friday to carry out work. Pending the reopening in January, the children will be accommodated in another nursery.

On Friday, December 13, the City of Montpellier carried out a diagnostic to measure the possible presence of lead in the Edelweiss nursery, located at 21 rue du Général Riu, next to boulevard de Strasbourg, and built in the 19th century.

These analyses, received on Monday, December 16, found that lead is present in the paint on some of the woodwork and moldings. These analyses do not indicate any significant deterioration.

The risk for children attending the nursery is limited, as it is a municipal nursery where children are under constant adult supervision (direct ingestion of paint flakes being the main cause of poisoning in children) and the cleaning and ventilation protocols are very strict.

Work and health measures immediately undertaken

Given the situation, the City of Montpellier immediately took the following measures:

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– Parents will be welcomed this morning at the Edelweiss nursery to explain the situation and the recommended screening and precautionary measures. The explanations are provided by health professionals from the Early Childhood Unit, supported by the Municipal Hygiene and Health Service.
– Early closure of the nursery this Tuesday, December 17 at 5 p.m. to hold an information meeting with the staff.
– Launch of protection work by specialized companies in the next few days: covering with placo and glued coating in particular. Final work, such as stripping, will be planned this summer.
– Monitoring the situation of families facing complex childcare issues, until a return to normal.

An information meeting for families will be organized this Wednesday, December 18 at the Town Hall, in the presence of Tasnime Akbaraly, deputy mayor, delegate for early childhood, to discuss the implementation of screening for children in the nursery and the work undertaken in the establishment.

Close monitoring of the health situation

Beyond these preventive and curative measures, the situation of children currently attending the nursery will be closely monitored.

If the thresholds are abnormal, the ARS will communicate the results and investigations will be launched on children who previously attended the nursery. For children who attended the nursery during previous periods, the risk is even more limited since they are no longer exposed.

However, parents can, if they wish, have their blood lead levels measured, with a prescription from their general practitioner. Concerning nursery professionals, the risks are almost non-existent and systematic screening is not necessary. However, young women and pregnant women will be invited to have their blood lead levels measured, in connection with preventive medicine. The F3SCT (specialized training in health, safety and working conditions) will be informed of these medical procedures.

The quality of life at work department and the early childhood center of the City of Montpellier are also fully mobilized to answer questions from professionals and families.

The crèche should reopen in early or mid-January, after completion of the work and carrying out a post-work inspection, allowing all reservations to be lifted.