This little-known danger of certain balconies for children

Beyond their classic and typical shape, Parisian balconies have a problem: they are covered in lead and few residents are aware of it. However, this fact is not anecdotal: “In Paris, 13% of cases of childhood lead poisoning would be due to the presence of lead on the balconies”, notes the Île-de-France Regional Health Agency in a notice dated December 21. The ARS, associated with the Paris town hall, wishes to better inform Parisians of the risk and the behavior to take.

Where is lead present?

The ARS Ils de France explains that lead is present on Parisian balconies, but not only. “When the French doors are opened, lead dust from the wear and tear of the balcony is deposited on the interior floors. Toys and cuddly toys are then contaminated by dust present on the interior floors of the living room and bedrooms, and the child is thus contaminated. Roofs can also contain lead, especially if your home was built before 1949. Finally, lead is also present in paints, pipes, certain cosmetics, and can remain “in the grounds of courtyards and gardens”, according to the town hall. from Paris.

In 2022, the presence of lead was also detected in two thirds of the schools or nurseries inspected in Paris.

For the ARS there are ways to find out if you are affected by this lead alert:

• Check the age of the building: if it was built before 1949, particularly between 1850 and 1920, it may be affected.
• Observe the appearance of the balcony: if the balcony floor is covered with sheets or metal plates, it is possible that it is made of lead.
• Look at the technical diagnostics (energy, asbestosetc.) transmitted when signing the rental lease or upon purchase.
• If doubt persists, contact your co-ownership trustee or its owner.

Learning disorders, hearing loss… Lead poisoning poses risks for our children

Why are children more at risk than adults? Because they touch the objects within their reach much more than we do, and therefore the walls of balconies.

“Due to their young age, children naturally put their hands in their mouth, thus favoring the ingestion of paints, soil, dust, which increases their risk of overexposure to lead. In addition, the digestive absorption of lead is more higher in children than in adults (40 to 55% in children compared to 5 to 10% in adults)”, explains in turn the Paris town hall. Furthermore, between 2015 and 2018, around 500 to 700 cases of childhood lead poisoning were diagnosed per year in France.

But lead poisoning, caused by the excessive presence of lead in the body, is not harmless. This may be the cause:

• Learning difficulties;
• Decrease in intellectual performance;
• Behavioral and sleep disorders;
• Hearing loss;
• Digestive disorders;
• Anemia…

Although it is not necessarily possible to change your balcony, it is nevertheless possible to protect yourself from it according to the ARS, which offers simple solutions:

• Wash children’s hands and faces regularly;
• Clean objects stored on the balcony before using them or bringing them into the apartment;
• Remove shoes worn on the balcony before entering the apartment;
• Do a damp cleaning of the rooms opening onto the balcony and ventilate the accommodation frequently.

The agency also reminds that in case of doubt linked to exposure to lead, only a blood test can determine possible poisoning.