Zealand broadcasting
ANNOUNCEMENTS•
The American chemical company 3M will stop producing PFA by 2025 at the latest. These are poorly degradable chemicals that are associated with a number of health problems, such as cancer and heart problems. Complaints can arise if people ingest these substances through their drinking water or food.
This problem also occurs in the Netherlands. The RIVM put on guard in May to eat as little fish, shrimp, oysters and mussels from the West Scheldt as possible. The amount of pfas in it is eight to ten times higher than in the store.
The pfas in the Western Scheldt comes, among others, from the 3M site in Zwijndrecht, Belgium. Last year it dumped thousands of kilograms of pfas with its wastewater into the Scheldt River, which flows into the Western Scheldt.
3M writes in a press release that increased regulations and possible claims for damages led to the decision. Such claims could cost the company more than 30 billion euros.
