Residents near a downtown La Rochelle construction site are alarmed by health issues linked to ongoing decontamination efforts for student and social housing. Claire, a local resident, reports dizziness and respiratory problems, with many children experiencing similar symptoms. A community group has formed to address these concerns, as hazardous materials were uncovered, prompting a pause in construction. Although authorities claim the site poses minimal risk, residents demand further safety measures and question the site’s overall safety.
Local Residents Express Alarm Over Construction Site
The ongoing construction project in downtown La Rochelle has raised significant concerns among nearby residents. Since late August, workers have been engaged in the decontamination of a site designated for student and social housing, situated mere meters from local homes. However, for Claire and her family, life has taken a turn for the worse since the work commenced.
Claire shares her distressing experience: *“Dizziness, nausea, constant headaches… it just doesn’t stop, and medication hasn’t helped. I constantly feel a burning sensation in my trachea,”* she recounts. Alarmingly, she has observed that many children in the area are also suffering from similar health issues.
As the situation escalated, Claire discovered that numerous neighbors were experiencing the same troubling symptoms. This led to the formation of a discussion group now comprising several hundred members. *“We started with over 750 people in the group, and it became clear that many children were facing health problems, allowing us to share our concerns,”* Claire explains.
Health Concerns Linked to Nearby Decontamination Site
Located close to several educational institutions, including a nursery, a middle school, and a high school, the decontamination site of an old gas factory accommodates more than 2,800 students. After school hours, many students have reported feeling unwell. A young girl shared, *“I know kids who switched middle schools because of this. Sometimes, there were six or seven absentees in a day.”*
The poison control center has received reports from 450 individuals citing various symptoms. A surge in calls occurred when a large tank containing hazardous materials was unearthed about a month ago, prompting a pause in construction activities. Benoît, a member of the *“Zero Toxic”* association, detailed, *“They found a tank that is 500 m³, roughly the size of a house, filled with hydrocarbons.”*
Currently, some of these toxic substances are being stored in green bins, awaiting evacuation in the coming days. Residents are demanding a thorough analysis of the dust from the construction site, which has infiltrated the surrounding neighborhood. Benoît lamented, *“My children said they were playing in the dust at the playground, treating it like snow. That’s unacceptable in a place meant to be safe.”*
Among the hazardous materials present at the site are naphthalene and benzene, both of which can be carcinogenic in high concentrations. Although the decontamination firm declined to comment, the Charente-Maritime prefecture has stated that the construction site does not pose a significant risk. Prefect Brice Blondel assured, *“The levels of benzene and naphthalene measured have been deemed negligible regarding the risk of developing severe forms of cancer, like leukemia.”*
Despite this reassurance, many residents question why the site wasn’t equipped with a depression chamber to contain potential contaminants, similar to the measures taken at the Olympic swimming pool construction in Seine-Saint-Denis. This protective structure effectively contained toxic dust.
However, La Rochelle’s mayor, Jean-François Fountaine, argues that such a solution would create its own issues. *“Building a dome requires deep foundations, which could lead to odors. Financial constraints are not the problem; we are committed to ensuring the best outcome,”* he emphasized. The town hall aims to conduct further analyses to ensure effective decontamination. Nevertheless, concerned residents believe the site can never be entirely safe, prompting calls for a permanent halt to the construction activities.