The topic of PFAS pollution around the 3M Zwijndrecht plant in Antwerp was first brought to light almost three years ago. However, employees at the site have long been forgotten in the debate, despite them being worst affected.
The presence of man-made per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals, also referred to as "forever chemicals" as they do not break down in the environment or human body, first came to light in 2021 after large amounts of the chemicals were discovered in 2018 in the ground near the 3M site in Zwijdrecht, where it produced the harmful substance.
However, the substances have since been proven to be widespread in soil, water, food and human bodies across all of Belgium, and are linked to various health problems, including cancer as well as risks to unborn children and brain damage. The blood of locals living in the area has systematically been tested in recent years, but little light is shed on the situation of employees at the plant.
"We are really very worried about the staff at the site," lawyer Geert Lenssens told Wakker op Zondag. "This is a forgotten group, and the question here is, is this an Omerta that means people are afraid to speak out about how they are affected?" he added.
Hotline for help
Blood test results of one worker showed he had a worrying dose of PFAS in his body. "The man had over 3,900 micrograms of PFAS per litre of blood. The European standard is 6.9 micrograms," he said. That is 500 times more than the "recommended" level. Even in local residents, "only" concentrations of 400 to 1,000 micrograms are recorded.
Citizen collective Darkwater 3M, formed by five families with children living near the 3M factory, is therefore starting a hotline so 3M workers are better informed about the effects of PFAS on their health, as they have been exposed to high levels of PFAS over a long period. The group will work with scientists and labs for the hotline.
Darkwater 3M together with 1,400 local residents last week also launched a class action before the civil court in Antwerp to claim damages from 3M USA, targeting the parent company in the United States. Lenssens will defend the case, of which damages could run into the billions.
The announcement comes almost one year after the Antwerp justice of the peace ruled that 3M must pay an advance of €2,000 to a family from Zwijndrecht whose blood was contaminated by its activities. This was followed by a case brought by Darkwater 3M, which started a class action against the company in Zwijndrecht to claim damages of €20,000 per local resident.
