Exposure to combination of chemicals appears to be too high, health risks unclear The food and drinking water that people consume include chemicals that have effects on health. Among them are substances, such as lead, which are known to have a negative effect on intelligence or development of the brain.
Details of proposed European PFAS ban released Today, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published details of a proposed ban on the production, use, sale and import of some 10,000 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Proposed European PFAS ban officially submitted The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway today took the first formal step towards a European ban on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by jointly submitting a restriction proposal to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
PFAS levels in drinking water from river water need to be brought down The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) advises to reduce PFAS concentrations in the drinking water in parts of the Netherlands in the coming years. This concerns drinking water produced from river water.
Higher alert level for Ebola There is an Ebola outbreak in several regions of Uganda that are also frequented by tourists. RIVM therefore asks medical professionals to be alert to symptoms that could indicate Ebola among people who have travelled to Uganda, and to request diagnostics to rule out or confirm Ebola.
More people sick as a result of food from their own kitchen In 2021, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) and the Municipal Public Health Service (GGD) received 14% more reports of outbreaks of food-related infections than in 20
Hardly any decrease in overweight, smoking and alcohol use since 2018 In 2021 half of all adults were overweight. 21% sometimes smoked, 7% were excessive drinkers and 8% heavy drinkers.
Estimated costs of foodborne infections 140 million euros lower in 2020 In 2020, the estimated costs of foodborne infections in the Netherlands were 140 million euros lower than in the preceding year. This corresponds to a 30% decrease. ANP
New WHO protocol for integrated One Health surveillance of antibiotic resistance: the Tricycle protocol The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a protocol for global One Health surveillance of antimicrobial resistance based on one indicator, Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase producing E. WHO
Temporary background values for PFAS in Dutch soil RIVM has derived temporary background values for two types of PFAS in Dutch soil: PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) and PFOA (perfluoro octanoic acid).