T.PC., a company located in Seurre, uses various metals in the manufacture of electronic components. Less than 150 meters away from the factory, downwind, there is a daycare center and a school complex. As part of the sale of this company, an environmental audit revealed contamination of the topsoil in the vicinity of the site with metals, particularly lead. The Institute for Health Surveillance reviewed the available environmental and health data and recommended an assessment of lead exposure for all children in the affected area. A study was initiated at the request of the Prefect with the following objectives: 1) to identify children who, due to their lead exposure, require biological monitoring, exposure reduction measures, and medical treatment; 2) to identify risk factors contributing to lead exposure; 3) to derive recommendations for reducing individual and collective exposure and to determine additional studies to be conducted among other populations. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among children meeting the following criteria: - born before July 1, 1998, and regularly attending the daycare center or school complex; - born between January 1, 1988, and July 1, 1998, and residing within the study area. A questionnaire was used to collect variables regarding individual factors likely to influence blood lead levels and variables aimed at describing the various risk factors studied (exposure to environments potentially contaminated by the factory, and to environments potentially contaminated with lead from other sources of pollution). Blood lead levels were measured using a venous blood sample. Of the 354 children included in the survey, 297 (84%) had their blood lead levels measured. The blood lead level results, along with recommendations regarding monitoring and medical follow-up, were provided to the parents and the attending physician. 223 children (75%) had blood lead levels below 70 μg/L, 74 children (25%) had blood lead levels of 70 μg/L or higher, 24 (8%) had levels of 100 μg/L, and 1 (0.3%) had levels of 150 μg/L. A nationwide study determined that the adjusted average blood lead level for children aged 1 to 6 years was 42.5 μg/L for the Burgundy region. In the present study, the adjusted average blood lead level is 31.4 μg/L among children of the same age. The association between blood lead levels and each of the risk factors was examined. Multivariate analysis showed that age, male gender, and the average duration of attendance at daycare and school contribute to increased blood lead levels. The following recommendations are made: - biological monitoring of children with blood lead levels exceeding 100 μg/L should be promoted, and monitoring should be conducted when levels are between 70 and 100 μg/L, - following the exposure reduction measures already implemented, continuous monitoring of the plant’s emissions will ensure that they do not result in significant exposure for the local population. (R.A.)