5 months Ago
PFAS is a class of about 4,000 man-made chemicals that can be found in products such as nonstick cookware and waterproof clothing. These do not degrade in the environment and accumulate in soil, food and water. The point being, there's been little escape from the film, at least if you live in the Netherlands.
The research is the first nationwide measurement of the presence of PFASs across the country, and at least seven were found in virtually all of the samples tested.
Health Risks and Regional Impact
The RIVM stressed, however, that a breach of health limits did not necessarily mean becoming ill on the spot, but that PFAS could have long-term health effects. These effects include suppression of the immune system, potential infertility, and even cancer. The impact of the toxic chemicals depends on the level of PFAS in the body, how long the exposure lasted, and the general health of a person, officials said.
The focus was on those people living close to the place where contamination has been described, at Dordrecht and the Westerschelde estuary. Residents in Dordrecht had higher PFOA, while those living near the Westerschelde had higher PFOS levels, types of PFAS used by the factories in question.
The RIVM findings affirm earlier assessments, in 2021 and 2013, that most people in the Netherlands consume too much PFAS at all ages through nutrition and drinking water.
Government Action and Future Controls
Those modification efforts are aimed at reducing PFAS exposure. And while PFAS break down slowly, the RIVM said, the substances can slowly leave the body if intake is reduced. Officials want people to minimise exposure, especially in high-risk areas.
Last year, the government cautioned parents not to let children play in sea foam that may contain concentrated PFAS. The substances have also been found in eggs from home-kept hens and in seafood such as fish, shrimp, oysters and mussels caught in one of the estuary's larger inlets, the Westerschelde, he added.
To address the issue, all types of PFAS will be added to the Dutch list of "substances of very high concern," junior environment minister Chris Jansen said. Quite it will now demand that companies try to reduce use of PFAS and eliminate the release of the chemicals, when feasible "Andius companies have to prove that they are not going to do that." If full phaseout isn't possible, the corporations need to produce five-year plans to cut PFAS output.
A continent-wide UK and EU-wide ban on all PFAS is now under consideration by EU scientific committees, as the bill for clean-up in the Netherlands alone could run into billions of euros, as there are potentially up to 1,000 contaminated locations.
