For years there has been much discussion about the steel factory of Tata Steel in IJmuiden. On our response platform NUjij, you wondered what we actually know about the carcinogenic substances that are released in the vicinity of Tata Steel. That’s how it is.
Tata Steel is een grote vervuiler. Het is de grootste CO2-uitstoter van Nederland. Die stof is een van de oorzaken van de opwarming van de aarde. De CO2 of koolstofdioxide komt vrij doordat in de fabriek veel kolen worden verbrand. Bij het produceren van staal is veel een hoge temperatuur nodig.
Het andere grote probleem is de uitstoot van giftige stoffen. Deze stoffen dwarrelen neer in de woonplaatsen rondom de fabriek. Vooral in Heemskerk, Wijk aan Zee, Velsen en IJmuiden. De mensen worden hierdoor eerder ziek; ze hebben bijvoorbeeld een grotere kans op longkanker.
Nieuwe onderzoeken laten zien dat kinderen een risico lopen bij het buiten spelen. De giftige stoffen zitten bijvoorbeeld op speeltoestellen, waar kinderen met hun handen aanzitten. Als ze hun vingers in hun mond steken, kunnen ze de stoffen ook op die manier binnen krijgen.
But are these two problems new?
No, it has been known for years that Tata Steel pollutes, emits toxic substances and smells bad. But lately more and more people are revolting. People from the neighbourhood, environmental organizations and also politicians. They want Tata Steel to change. The company has to work cleaner. If that doesn’t happen soon, they think the factory will have to close.
Several lawsuits are pending against the company. In May, for example, 1,100 people and 8 foundations filed a complaint against Tata Steel. They find it unacceptable that the factory continues to emit such dangerous and carcinogenic substances, while the company knows how bad this is for people in the area.
Last June, research by the RIVM also showed that people who live close to the Tata Steel steel factory are more likely to receive medicines against cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and diabetes than people outside the IJmond region.
According to the health institute, residents of Beverwijk and Velsen are prescribed these medicines 11 to 16 percent more often. For respiratory diseases in adults, this is 5 to 10 percent more often.
Medicines for respiratory diseases are no longer prescribed for children, the RIVM said in a report.
The institute conducted research into the influence of air quality in the IJmond on the health of residents in this region. In doing so, it looked at how often residents received medicines for certain conditions for the first time between 2008 and 2019. These are diseases that can be related to particulate matter and nitrogen oxides in the air.
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