The figure of 500 cases per year is “relatively stable for several years” according to the National Institute for Public Health Surveillance which published these figures in its weekly bulletin. Stability also for what is called the follow-up blood lead level which records 80 to 100 cases per year. However, it should be noted that stronger activity in the monitoring phase was noted in Paris and Aubervilliers.
Ile-de-France remains the main region concerned by these tests, with 78.1% of primary screening. In second place comes Nord-Pas-de-Calais with a rate of 17.4%. Between 1995 and 2005, 9,000 children were thus screened.
The drop in lead poisoning cases among first-screening children reflects the drop in its prevalence in the entire French population. The extension of screening to less exposed populations has a favorable influence on the figures. There is a very high prevalence among children with an immigrant background.
Among the risk factors identified in children, the risk associated with lead paints is the most important (old housing, degraded …). The industrial risk is present in 22% of children.
The objective of the actions currently carried out is to target the most exposed children, that is to say those who are in a situation of poverty or precariousness.
Any blood lead level equal to or greater than 100 μg / L detected for the first time in a minor is considered a new case of lead poisoning. Each case must be reported to the Ddass by the prescriber. Since 2004, this information has been relayed to InVS by Ddass, which enters it into its database.