Chemical company 3M has applied to the province of Antwerp for a permit to discharge substantial quantities of “ultra-short-chain” PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) into the Scheldt from its site in Zwijndrecht, news website Apache revealed on Wednesday.
3M stated on Thursday that the wastewater will be treated properly and said the company is working on a method to measure ultra-short-chain PFAS. Apache states that the chemical company has been discharging ultra-short-chain PFAS for decades, but these discharges are not officially authorised and are not measured.
The company explains that it is very difficult to measure the quantity and concentration of the substances and stresses that they would not be particularly harmful. But in the wake of the PFAS crisis, discussion has intensified about the potential health impact of these so-called “forever chemicals”.
The fact that 3M is now asking for discharge standards for these substances is drawing criticism. Flemish environmental party Groen has called on the regional government not to grant the permit.
In a reaction on Thursday, 3M says ultra-short-chain PFAS were included until 2019 in the existing permit with all other PFAS: “In 2019, a different permit procedure was introduced in which it was decided to standardise PFAS individually,” the company stated. It added that this therefore requires a recognised measurement method for an individual PFAS.
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However, there is currently no recognised measurement method for ultra-short-chain PFAS. “The method developed by 3M has not been approved,” the company continued. “3M Belgium is working together with the research institute VITO to develop a recognised measurement method.”
The chemical company added that “under normal manufacturing circumstances, there are no measurable amounts of PFAS from our production processes present in wastewater. Groundwater and wastewater are treated with the best available technology before discharge into the Scheldt.
