Prof. Gerard Chaouat

Gerard Chaouat, director of research at Clamart French National Center for Scientific Research, said that asbestos and biohazards posed a risk to scientists across France.

The Scientist contacted CHU Necker several times about the claims, but the university did not respond by deadline.

Chaouat told The Scientist that many of the laboratories were located in obsolete and overcrowded buildings.He also said scientists and students were regularly exposed to dangers, such as radioactive sources and biohazards.

"On paper, the regulations for safety in French laboratories are strict, but in practice, there is not enough money to implement them," Chaouat told The Scientist."Measures to protect scientists and students against carcinogenic and radioactive [risks], excess chlorine, and biohazards in particular not efficient."

Also, Chaouat said that fire protection measures were inadequate even in laboratories with highly inflammable substances and chemicals."I have never seen instructions about what to do in case of fire on the wall of any laboratory in France," he said.

Chaouat called on the government to spend more money on making sure scientists worked in safe conditions."The authorities are very cynical in setting strict standards on paper but not giving any money to actually implement them, and this needs to change," he said.

Prof. Gerard Chaouat
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Prof. Gerard Chaouat Coordinator of European Network of Excellence on Embryo Implantation Control Former President of International Society of Reproductive Immunology Director of Cytokines and Immunoregulation Unit, INSERM, Clamart

Prof. Gerard Chaouat Coordinator of European Network of Excellence on Embryo Implantation Control Former President of International Society of Reproductive Immunology Director of Cytokines and Immunoregulation Unit, INSERM, Clamart

Dr. Gérard Chaouat.INSERM, Clamart, France, EMBIC Coordinator

Gérard ChaouatPresident

Gerard Chaouat, director of research at Clamart French National Center for Scientific Research, said that asbestos and biohazards posed a risk to scientists across France.

The Scientist contacted CHU Necker several times about the claims, but the university did not respond by deadline.

Chaouat told The Scientist that many of the laboratories were located in obsolete and overcrowded buildings.He also said scientists and students were regularly exposed to dangers, such as radioactive sources and biohazards.

"On paper, the regulations for safety in French laboratories are strict, but in practice, there is not enough money to implement them," Chaouat told The Scientist."Measures to protect scientists and students against carcinogenic and radioactive [risks], excess chlorine, and biohazards in particular not efficient."

Also, Chaouat said that fire protection measures were inadequate even in laboratories with highly inflammable substances and chemicals."I have never seen instructions about what to do in case of fire on the wall of any laboratory in France," he said.

Chaouat called on the government to spend more money on making sure scientists worked in safe conditions."The authorities are very cynical in setting strict standards on paper but not giving any money to actually implement them, and this needs to change," he said.

Gerard Chaouat, a director of research at INSERM's unit in Clamart, countered that abolishing the age limit will enable more people to enter science, a "good side" to the recent decision."Scientists who have not followed a typical career route or who went abroad to do their postdoctoral research could benefit," he told The Scientist.

"We are happy that the crisis in leadership is over," said Gerard Chaouat, a member of the National Union of Scientific Researchers and a director of research at Inserm's unit in Clamart, which works with scientists from the Institut Pasteur.
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"The laboratories are old and an inquiry has said that they do not conform to electrical safety regulations and must be updated," Chaouat told The Scientist.
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Chaouat said the mission of the institute was to do basic research."Of course, we have links with private enterprise but we are a public service institute," he said.