Residents of the municipality of Moerdijk run a higher risk of acute bronchitis and respiratory complaints than in comparable areas in the Netherlands. This is apparent from a large-scale health study into the health effects of the industry in Moerdijk over the period from 2016 to 2019. Especially when there are higher concentrations of nitrogen and particulate matter in the air, more people report complaints to their GP.
The residents also have more frequent and longer-lasting complaints such as abdominal pain, nausea and fatigue. The study does not clarify how the higher concentrations of nitrogen and particulate matter are caused.
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“The measured concentration can come from several sources, for example industry, but also road traffic, shipping or open fires. The relationship to one specific source has not been demonstrated. It is important in this regard that the national/legal standards for air quality are nowhere in the municipality. exceeded,” the report said.
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When asked, the municipality says that it still needs to be discussed whether further research will be carried out into the exact cause of the higher concentrations of nitrogen and particulate matter.
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The research was carried out on behalf of the municipality of Moerdijk by research institute Nivel together with the GGD, the general practitioners in Moerdijk and the Environment Agency for Central and West Brabant. As in the previous survey for the period 2013-2015, anonymized patient data from general practitioners in the area was analyzed and compared with other areas.
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The analysis also shows that leukemia, lung cancer, diabetes and COPD are not more common in Moerdijk than in comparable areas in the Netherlands. “What is also striking is that hardly any differences are found between the village and city centers: slightly fewer complaints in Willemstad, most complaints in Fijnaart and Zevenbergen. But the residential areas around the port area do not score any different from the average in the municipality of Moerdijk.”
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The municipality previously also conducted health research for the years 2013 to 2015. It already showed that residents of Moerdijk more often suffer from headaches, fatigue and dizziness. This new study shows that those complaints have not diminished.
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In the study, data from the four special measuring stations in Moerdijk and other areas included various ‘sniffing poles’ in the industrial area.
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The municipality of Moerdijk has made an animation about the results.
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