The company Chemours in Dordrecht has recently published a report on the emission of substances into the air. This report, prepared by consultancy Witteveen+Bos in April of this year, has been assessed by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) on behalf of the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT). Based on this assessment, the ILT concludes that the report falls short in several areas.
In consultation with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW), the province of South Holland, DCMR Environmental Service Rijnmond (DCMR), and the municipality of Dordrecht, it has been discussed that the report does not provide a complete picture of the emitted substances. Only substances classified as substances of very high concern (ZZS) in 2023 have been included. Substances that received this status later have not been included. Possible risks that often fall outside of permits, such as the deposition of substances in the environment or pollution from the past, are also overlooked.
Health Risks
The ILT emphasizes that it is positive that Chemours shows willingness to take its social responsibility with the report. The report was created following a call from the Safety Investigation Board for more insight into the health risks for local residents. However, Chemours conclusion that there is no increased health risk cannot be confirmed: the available data is insufficient for that.
Missing Information
During the inspection by the RIVM, it became clear that crucial information about calculations is missing, such as which data was used and how it was validated. Therefore, it cannot be determined whether the conclusions in the report are correct.
Supplementary Research
In joint consultation, the Ministry of IenW, the ILT, the municipality, the province, and the environmental service have agreed with Chemours that the company will conduct supplementary research in the short term. This research will examine the emission of substances that have since been recognized as ZZS. Parties will remain in contact regarding this supplementary research.
Additionally, the municipality, province, and ministry are working on a letter of intent that will outline concrete and verifiable agreements, including on this topic.