On April 15th, 2019, the world saw in awe the Notre Dame Cathedral ravaged by flames. As the fire spread through the beloved Paris landmark, toxic smoke spewed billions of particles of lead from the collapsing roof and spire. In the weeks that followed the disaster, experts and civil society groups raised the alarm about the risk of lead exposure for Paris residents and workers on the Notre-Dame site, and drew media attention on an issue that affects millions of people worldwide. Indeed, lead poisoning can cause neurological, renal or cardiovascular problems – especially in children. Still today, lead can be found in old paintwork, dyes, cosmetics, toys, and batteries. 800 million children – 1 in 3 worldwide – are exposed to lead and according to the World Bank, lead is responsible for at least 5 million deaths each year.
To shed light on this global challenge, Vis A Vis is honored to welcome historian Judith Rainhorn of Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne and Columbia geochemist Lex Van Geen.
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Judith Rainhorn is a Professor in Modern History at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. Her research interests include the history of medicine and health, urban history, environmental and labor history in France, Europe and the United States, on which she has published extensively. Judith’s current research deals with the history of industrial poisons and occupational diseases. Her most recent book is entitled: Blanc de plomb. Histoire d’un poison légal (Presses de Sciences Po 2019).
Geochemist Lex van Geen holds a research professor appointment at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and is a member of the Earth Institute’s faculty at Columbia University. His current work focuses on ways to reduce the impact of the environment on human health, and includes research on fluoride in groundwater in India, bauxite dust in Guinea, and lead-contaminated soil in Peru mines.
In October 2024, Lex van Geen and Judith Rainhorn organized a workshop on reducing lead pollution at the Columbia Maison Française, with the support of the Alliance Program.
Credits
Host: Dr. Emmanuel Kattan
Editor and Producer: Rachel Kahn
Producer: Georgia O’Neil