It appears that the chemical company 3M, which has been under heavy fire for a few months due to PFOS contamination, is now illegally dumping another toxin into the Scheldt. We released this news yesterday. It has to do with FBSA, a substance that accumulates in the lungs. And the Ministry of Environment, Saturn Demir, said, in response, that last night the Environmental Inspection Authority immediately began taking samples.
Since 2002, 3M has ceased production of PFOS, a toxic substance that has been shown to accumulate in the human body and is described as “extremely hazardous”. Since then, 3M has continued to produce other hazardous materials. Prior to that, I received a permit to discharge sewage in Scheldt. But 3M has never applied for a permit to the FBSA, even though it is discharging wastewater illegally in Scheldt. Since 3M never indicated that it would unload the material, it was not measured by the Flemish government either. So it was able to discharge toxic wastewater undisturbed for years.
“This is a new element in the file that we are building around 3M and its pollution,” said the Saturn Demir government. “Last night, the authorities immediately began taking samples of the water, which is now analyzed by a recognized lab. If 3M crosses the line, the company will be liable. This has been our position from the start and will remain so.”
Demir also wants to put the “unclear” European approach to PFAS pollution on the European Environment Council’s agenda. It will likely happen in October.
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