Toulouse (AFP)

Thirty-eight children overexposed to arsenic according to the latest report: 15 years after its closure, the legacy of Salsigne arsenic mine (Aude), which was the largest in the world, feeds in the region the fear of stubborn and toxic pollution.

"We are in a country where the rules are not the same if we are in Paris or in the depths of the province", carried out the mayor of Lastours, Max Brail. "In Paris (where the work of decontamination of lead polluted soil after the fire of Notre-Dame have just begun), we put the means, but here, no," he added to AFP.

At the end of June, the discovery of higher than average arsenic levels among three boys had confirmed residents' fears of possible discharges from toxic waste. On 8 July, a surveillance system for populations in the Orbiel Valley, north of Carcassonne, was set up.

A month later, the results are clear: out of 103 children aged 11 or under tested, 38 have a level of arsenic in the urine per gram of creatinine greater than 10 micrograms / gram, which is the reference value, indicates Tuesday the regional health agency (ARS Occitanie). Ten of them even have a rate higher than 15 μg / g.

"When the concentration found is greater than the reference value of 10 g / g, it is recommended to carry out a control sampling 2 months after removing or limiting the sources of exposure. show the exposure over time as it reflects a recent exposure, not a chronic exposure, "says the ARS.

"In case of a second analysis beyond the reference value, the ARS teams will offer families who want personalized home support," says the public agency.

In the case of arsenic, the ingestion by the inhabitants of certain foods produced locally (root vegetables, leafy vegetables, mushrooms, aromatic plants?) Or contaminated drinking water "is very largely in the majority", according to the ARS .

- "Move" the waste -

Since 1999, health recommendations have been issued, but studies have put forward "non-compliant practices and habits such as the use of water from private wells or uncontrolled communal sources".

Europe's largest gold mine and the world's first arsenic mine, Salsigne has been operating for almost a century until 2004. But it has left millions of tons of toxic waste stored at five nearby sites, some of whom, denouncing associations, have lost their seal. The floods of October 2018 (14 deaths) increased concerns about soil pollution.

"As long as we do not eradicate the cause, we do not address the problems," notes the mayor of Lastours. "We have to move" the toxic waste stored because "as soon as it rains, it feeds the bottom stream.We know and nothing is done" while there are "considerable means for Our Lady, this which is otherwise normal ".

For the mayor, the tests must also be extended to children over 11 years: "a kid of 12 years is not entitled to be reassured? Do not prevent someone who wants to do the test of We have the duty to accompany them, "he insists.

After the floods of autumn 2018, high levels of arsenic were found in the village school yard, work was done, the ground dug 25 cm and then tarred and "now there is more arsenic, "says Brail.

But the mayor remains worried: "If there are new floods, new floods, there is a risk that the school is affected."

© 2019 AFP