That people have more PFAS Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in their blood than the health threshold value does not mean that people will immediately become ill from PFAS. It does mean that PFAS can have effects in the body. For example, the immune system may work less effectively. The effects depend on the amount of PFAS, the duration of exposure, and a persons health situation.
This first national study aims to measure how much PFAS is in the bodies of people in the Netherlands. RIVM is also examining blood samples from 2025 for this purpose. With this knowledge, we can monitor in the future whether measures to reduce exposure are effective.

PFOS perfluorooctanesulfonates (perfluorooctanesulfonates) and PFOA perfluorooctanoic acid (perfluorooctanoic acid) most commonly found

RIVM looked at 28 different PFAS in nearly 1,500 blood samples. This provides a good picture of the situation in the Netherlands. In almost all blood samples, at least seven different PFAS were found (PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnDA, PFHxS, PFHpS, and PFOS). Five of the substances studied were not found in anyone. PFOS was the most commonly found in the blood, followed by PFOA.

Additionally, RIVM paid extra attention to the regions of Dordrecht and around the Western Scheldt, as these are near factories where PFAS have entered the environment.

Inhabitants of the Dordrecht region had significantly more PFOA found than the average in the Netherlands. Around the Western Scheldt, the amount of PFOS was higher.

Important to reduce PFAS in the body

RIVM calculated in 2021 and 2023 that people in the Netherlands are getting too much PFAS from food and drinking water. The results of the blood study confirm this. Although PFAS are known to be difficult to break down, they can slowly disappear from the body. To bring the amount of PFAS below the health threshold value in the long term, it is necessary for people to ingest less PFAS.

People can hardly avoid contact with PFAS. These substances are found throughout the Netherlands in the soil, and in food and drinking water. The Food Center advises to eat a varied diet to reduce PFAS intake. People can also pay attention to whether there are PFAS in products, such as non-stick coatings, cosmetics, and rain jackets.

The Netherlands is working on measures against PFAS

Especially companies and governments can take measures so that people ingest less PFAS. The Netherlands often collaborates with other European countries for this purpose. In 2008, the substance PFOS was banned, and since 2020 also the substance PFOA. To prevent the replacement of one PFAS with another, the Netherlands, together with other countries, has proposed a European ban on all PFAS. This proposal is currently under review by European scientific committees.

PFAS research program

For the current study, blood samples from 2016 and 2017 were used. For a more recent picture, RIVM will conduct further research with blood samples from 2025. Different types of PFAS will also be measured in these samples and compared with the health threshold value. The results of this research are expected in 2026.

These studies are part of the PFAS research program. The aim of this program is to understand how the exposure of the Dutch population to PFAS can be reduced. For this purpose, RIVM investigates how much and in what ways people are exposed to PFAS. We also investigate how much PFAS is in the environment and in humans. The PFAS research program is a task of the ministries of VWS Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport), IenW Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management) and LVVN Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature).