Everyone in the Netherlands has different types of PFAS, known as “forever chemicals”, in their blood, and almost all people have levels above the health limit, new research by public health institute RIVM has found.
The study, based on nearly 1,500 blood samples collected in 2016 and 2017, is the first nationwide assessment of PFAS exposure. In almost all samples, at least seven different types of PFAS were detected.
PFAS is a collective term for around 4,000 chemicals that do not degrade in the environment. These substances are used in products such as non-stick pan coatings and waterproof clothing.
PFAS pollution is a growing problem in the Netherlands, and the chemicals are widespread in soil, food and water across the country, making it almost impossible for individuals to avoid contact.
The RIVM said that although exceeding the health limit does not mean people will immediately fall ill, PFAS can affect the body, for example by weakening the immune system. The health impact depends on the amount of PFAS, the length of exposure, and an individual’s personal health.
Extra attention was given to blood samples from people living near Dordrecht and around the Westerschelde estuary, where factories have released PFAS into the environment. In Dordrecht, higher levels of PFOA were found, while PFOS levels were notably higher near the Westerschelde.
The RIVM said the results confirm previous calculations from 2021 and 2023 showing that people in the Netherlands take in too much PFAS through food and drinking water. Although PFAS break down slowly, they can gradually leave the body, and reducing intake is essential to bring levels back below the health threshold over time, the agency said.
Research by the Financieele Dagblad and Investico earlier this year suggested that cleaning up PFAS pollution in the Netherlands is set to cost billions of euros, given the “forever chemicals” could be present in up to 1,000 locations.
Last July, government officials issued stronger warnings against allowing children to play in sea foam at the beach, as it may contain high concentrations of PFAS.
High levels of the chemicals have also been detected in eggs from hens kept as a hobby, as well as in fish, shrimp, oysters and mussels caught in the Westerschelde estuary.
New controls
At the end of last year, junior environment minister Chris Jansen told MPs that all types of PFAS would be included on the official Dutch list of “substances of very high concern”. Companies using these chemicals must minimise their use and prevent emissions entirely.
If emissions cannot be fully eliminated, firms will be required to draw up a plan every five years to reduce them, Jansen said. PFAS are known to cause cancer and affect fertility, and have been added to the priority list of chemicals posing a threat to human health and the environment.
A proposal for a European ban on all PFAS is currently under review by EU scientific committees.