The owner of the Oosterweel connection Lantis and 3M had agreed how the contaminated soil would be safely accommodated. But just to be sure, the Flemish Government set up an expert group to investigate whether there were any health risks for workers and local residents, and whether the works could continue.
That is possible, say the experts, who do not see an increased risk to the health of local residents. They do give some recommendations: top soil layers with the highest concentrations of PFOS should be excavated, near a stream on the construction site, digging should not be done too deep, blowing dust should be monitored better, on a small side site of the construction site in the vicinity of 3M, the soil must also be treated with a little more caution and contaminated soil may not be mixed with other contaminated soil during earthmoving, all of this must be more clearly defined. Finally, Lantis also needs to communicate better with the population.
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