Limited consideration of combination effects of hazardous substances when granting SVHC permits The harmful effect of a combination of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs or Zeer Zorgwekkende Stoffen, ZZS)) may be greater than the effect of each individual substance.
New test for Lyme disease is not reliable To determine whether someone has Lyme disease, doctors in the Netherlands often use antibody tests. For some time now, so-called cellular tests have been available on the market.
Many more infections, limited increase in hospital admissions In the past week, the number of people who tested positive for COVID-19 in the Netherlands increased by 64% compared to the week before that.
Current knowledge on microplastics in the soil is still inadequate A literature review carried out by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has concluded that reliable standard techniques should be developed to analyse microplastics in the soil.
New crisis response organisation at RIVM to control future pandemics The cabinet has agreed to the proposal of Ernst Kuipers, Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport, to set up a National Functionality for Infectious Disease Control (LFI).
Flu vaccination also available for pregnant women as of this autumn Every year, people aged 60+ and people with certain medical conditions can get the free flu vaccination. On the recommendation of the Health Council of the Netherlands, the free flu vaccination will now also be made available to pregnant women.
More children vaccinated against mumps, measles, rubella and HPV The percentage of newborns participating in the immunisation programme targeting mumps, measles and rubella rose slightly over the past year.
Transfer models for harmful substances in animal feed online now RIVM and Wageningen Food Safety Research have made five feed-food transfer models available to calculate how many harmful substances in animal feed end up in animal-based foods.
Essential to keep a close eye on roll out of 5G The extent to which people are exposed to electromagnetic fields from individual 5G antennas and telephones is below the limits recommended by the European Union.
Control measures against the spread of Legionella from wastewater treatment plants Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) may spread Legionella via the air and cause pneumonia if people inhale them.