Irresponsible Choice: Notre-Dame Repair in Paris May Have Consequences.

Concerns of Public Associations About Notre-Dame's Lead Coverage

The decision to cover the spire and roof of Notre-Dame with more than 400 tons of lead has raised concerns among French public associations. According to representatives of these organizations, lead, particles of which enter the soil and air, is carcinogenic and dangerous for visitors, staff, and local residents.

"This is an irresponsible choice; lead is very dangerous and poses risks to both the workers involved in the reconstruction and the residents of nearby areas and visitors to the cathedral. It puts the population at risk again regarding lead," said Benoit Martin, Secretary-General of the Paris branch of the General Confederation of Labor (UD-CGT).

He clarified that both the Supreme Council of Health and the City Council of Paris had opposed the use of lead. According to Martin, after the fire in 2019, which destroyed the covering made from 400 tons of lead, medical tests were conducted showing elevated lead levels in the blood of children living near the cathedral. In 2022, associations of parents and patients with lead poisoning filed a lawsuit against the Regional Health Agency and the Ministry of Culture and Health.

It should be noted that on Saturday, December 7, Notre-Dame Cathedral was officially reopened in Paris. The reconstruction of Notre-Dame has been ongoing since 2019 following the devastating fire in the roof. It was restored within five years as promised. A total of 846 million euros was raised for the restoration of Notre-Dame from major patrons and hundreds of thousands of private donors.