Metaleurop : A stain on France

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For years the people of Evin-Malmaison in north-east France have lived and brought up children in a town which is dangerously polluted. The Metaleurop Foundry attracted workers and their families, it provided life to the area - but it has now killed it with the pollution, which lies deep in the soil. Twenty years after the factory closed, the scale of the scandal has only just emerged, thanks to a new residents campaign. But who will takes responsibility? Marine Hay meets the families here who say they can't live with lead seeping into their water supply, but can't leave because, who would buy their houses? The pollution is not confined to Evin, the Mayors of neighbouring towns claim they are also victims of a 'double jeopardy' : not only is their population in danger, but the image of their towns which already suffer from poverty will be permanently affected. Campaigners are asking the French state for 558 million Euros to repair the ecological damage, claiming that the government not only didn't take sufficient action, worse than that, it imposed a silence about the actual levels of lead in the soil. Children here have tested for lead poisoning, their parents are scared and furious; they also feel forgotten, forced to fight massive companies on their own, while bringing up children in towns that are dangerous to live in. Marine tells the story of their battle for recognition and, more importantly, justice. (Photo: The metal factory of Metaleurop is seen 12 February, 2003 in Noyelles-Godault, France. Credit: Yoray Liberman/Getty Images)