American chemical company 3M is said to have informed the Belgian Federal Environmental Inspectorate that it is indeed discharging FBSA, a substance that builds up in the lungs, into the waters of the Schelde River. This is what Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN) reported Tuesday. The company does not have a permit to do so.
"FBSA is one of about six thousand PFAS substances," an RIVM spokesperson told NU.nl. "These substances persist in the environment for a long time and are therefore also called 'forever chemicals'. This one substance is very similar to another PFAS substance (PFBS) and can be converted into PFBS. PFBS has been designated a substance of concern in Europe."
To prevent more PFAS from entering the environment, the spokesman said the Netherlands is cooperating on a proposal to ban the production, sale and use of all PFAS in Europe. It is not yet clear whether the substance has also been found in the Westerschelde and whether local residents could be affected.
3M has been under fire for some time because until 2002 it made PFOS, dangerous chemicals similar to those used by Chemours that previously contaminated parts of Dordrecht. The substances were found to have ended up in large quantities in the water and soil in and around Zwijndrecht, Belgium, where 3M produces FBSA. That poses health risks to people in the area.
3M never applied for a permit to discharge that substance into the water. Therefore, the Flemish government also does not measure its concentrations, allowing the company to go undisturbed for years.
Last week, samples were taken at Zwijndrecht, which will be analyzed this week. Based on the results, measures will be taken. These will probably include a ban on discharges, HLN writes. On Wednesday, 3M will speak at an environmental inspectorate hearing.
Repost: NU.nl