The Environmental Incident Service of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) will be on Bonaire from 13 to 17 November 2024. As chair of the island’s crisis policy team, the lieutenant governor has requested RIVM’s assistance to deal with the recent fires at Selibon’s landfill in Lagun.
RIVM will investigate different locations around the landfill to get greater insight into hazardous substances that may have been released into the environment. To do this, RIVM will take swipe samples and samples from the soil and vegetation. These samples will be analysed in the Netherlands for the presence of PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons), dioxins and heavy metals. This information will offer insight into current potential risks to the health of people and the environment in the vicinity of the landfill.