This study, commissioned by the national public health agency (Santé publique France) and whose preliminary results are being released today, will help identify the sources and routes of contamination, as well as the populations most at risk, with the aim of prevention and health care.

A bioaccumulation study to better understand the impact of mining sites on the population

The exposure study (measuring the presence of pollutants in the body) focused on two study areas¹ around the Carnoulès and Croix de Pallières mining sites. On a voluntary basis, the 2,800 residents of these municipalities and the surrounding areas were invited to have their exposure levels measured for the main elements present in the soil—lead, arsenic, and cadmium—and to complete a questionnaire about their lifestyle and dietary habits. These questionnaires will help determine the possible sources of the observed exposure levels.

Preliminary results on population exposure

The study included 651 volunteers, representing 347 households, including 564 individuals over the age of 15 and 87 children under the age of 15.

Initial results indicate that 22% of study participants had arsenic exposure levels exceeding the reference value established for the general population, and 13% had cadmium exposure levels exceeding the reference value established for the general population.

No cases of childhood lead poisoning2 were detected; only 3 cases of blood lead levels at or above the warning threshold (25 micrograms per liter) were observed in children. The results therefore show no significant difference from the general population.

The ARS individually informed all individuals who participated in the study. Those whose exposure to the measured substances exceeded the reference values were referred to their primary care physician for medical follow-up when deemed necessary. Recommendations to limit exposure to pollutants were provided to all study participants.

To identify sources and modes of exposure, the study conducted by Santé publique France is continuing with the analysis of questionnaires completed by participants, which focus on their lifestyle and dietary habits.

Additional soil analyses are also needed to study the exposure patterns of study participants who reside outside the areas covered by environmental measurement campaigns during environmental status assessment (IEM) studies. These new measurement campaigns among volunteer participants will begin this summer.

The final results of the Santé publique France study, incorporating all of these elements, will be available in the second half of 2017 (provided that all environmental results are available). They will provide a better understanding of exposure patterns in order to formulate recommendations for reducing exposure to protect the population.