They are at Nantes, Angers, Laval, Le Mans, La Roche-sur-Yon and Saint-Nazaire. Twelve public and private maternity hospitals in the Pays-de-la-Loire have decided to collectively mobilize against the presence of pollutants inside their premises. These chemical pollutants are found in the air, on the equipment used or in the composition of certain care products administered daily.
Fearing that they are “harmful to the health of the child and the future adult” (risk of allergies, asthma, diabetes, cancers, etc.), the twelve voluntary establishments have therefore undertaken to reduce the exposure of patients and professionals. To achieve this, a diagnosis was first carried out, with the help of a design office, in each of the maternities. Then an action plan was developed.
Diapers, wipes, cleaning products…
The main changes concern the creation of a “single standard” for cosmetics and personal hygiene products, the purchase of eco-responsible nappies, short supply chains for mothers and organic infant milk for newborns, on stopping the distribution of cosmetic samples to young mothers, or on setting up monitoring of indoor air quality. Regarding the cleaning of the premises, it is also decided to stop single-use wipes used for floors or surfaces, to develop cleaning with water or steam, or to reduce the reduction of cleaning products. Awareness-raising workshops and discussion times are also organized with parents.
“In these establishments where hygiene regulations are drastic, switching from a traditional method to a new eco-responsible method is not without complexity: the new instructions require a test period to test them and judge their relevance. Once adopted, they may require time to adapt to be understood and accepted by all,” point out the regional health agency (ARS) of Pays-de-la-Loire and the French health insuranceco-pilots of this operation.