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Nearly All Dutch People Demand Action Against PFAS Pollution, Study Shows
Amsterdam, 9 September 2024 – A groundbreaking study by Ipsos I&O reveals that an overwhelming majority of Dutch citizens are calling for measures to tackle PFAS pollution. The research, conducted for national newspaper AD, indicates that approximately nine out of ten Dutch people believe that steps must be taken to combat the environmental and health risks posed by PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances).
The study highlights that residents of Dordrecht and its surrounding areas are particularly concerned about the health risks associated with PFAS. This heightened concern is not surprising, given that the sole PFAS-producing factory in the Netherlands is located in Dordrecht. The Chemours factory has become a focal point for local anxiety.
According to the research, 23 percent of residents in the Dordrecht region are very concerned about the health risks in their living environments, compared to just seven percent of people in the rest of the country. Moreover, nearly two-thirds (63%) of Dordrecht residents believe there are significant health risks due to PFAS, while only a fifth of people elsewhere in the Netherlands share this view.
The study also found that 24 percent of Dutch citizens are taking measures to reduce their exposure to PFAS, rising to 33 percent in the Dordrecht region. Common strategies include purchasing fewer PFAS-containing products. In Dordrecht, residents are adopting a variety of measures, with 59 percent either stopping or reducing their consumption of eggs from locally owned chickens. Additionally, 58 percent are swimming less in natural areas, and 49 percent are avoiding vegetables and fruit from their gardens.
Support for PFAS-related measures is widespread, with around six in ten Dutch residents backing stricter production rules, the development of alternatives, and enhanced water and company inspections. In the Dordrecht area, 37 percent of residents suggested closing the Chemours factory as a viable measure, compared to 23 percent of residents in the rest of the country.
A general ban on PFAS has the support of 46 percent of Dordrecht residents, while 38 percent of the rest of the country views this as a suitable measure. PFAS, known for their resistance to biodegradation, have been linked to serious health issues, including cancer, higher cholesterol, and reproductive defects.
The research was conducted among 1,645 Dutch participants and an additional 504 from the Dordrecht region. The findings underscore the urgency felt by the Dutch public to address the growing problem of PFAS pollution.
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