Children exposed to toxic lead levels after Notre Dame Cathedral fire

French authorities found lead levels up to 60 times over the safety standard.

April 25, the historical Notre Dame Cathedral went up in flames destroying more than just the ornate structure. Over 450 tons of lead turned to dust from the iconic roof settling in schools, daycares, parks and other public places. At least 18 daycare centres, preschools, and elementary schools tested much above the French safety regulatory standard.

Within 48 hours of the fire, French authorities knew there were extreme lead exposures but took four months before conducting a full inspection. Still, today, there are schools in the proximity of the cathedral yet to be tested.

• Read more: Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in flames

The greatest risk to lead exposures are children, especially those under 6, as well as pregnant women and nursing mothers, who can pass the lead on to their children. If ingested, high levels of lead can leave young children with permanent cognitive damage.

For weeks, hundreds of children attended schools near Notre-Dame before the authorities tested for lead levels or cleaned the buildings.

‘‘I would think there would have been sufficient knowledge among public health authorities to realize that this had the potential to cause a great deal of environmental harm,” Matthew J. Chachère, counsel to the New York City Coalition to End Lead Poisoning said to The New York Times.

For weeks, hundreds of children attended schools near Notre-Dame before the authorities tested for lead levels or cleaned the buildings.

• Read more: Notre Dame Cathedral holds first mass 2 months after tragic fire

Inspectors noted that restoration workers operating inside the cathedral were not decontaminating their clothes under their jumpsuits before leaving work. Due to that, their families are most likely to be exposed to lead poisoning. According to reports, unsafe lead levels have been found in the blood of three workers.

Dr. Squinazi, a Paris medical expert told The New York Times, ‘‘Children of workers are running a greater risk.”

Officials say it`s possible the high lead levels are not all due to the Notre-Dame fire and maybe a part of a larger Paris pollution issue.