Combined exposure to high amounts of lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic increases risk of kidney damage People can come into contact with chemicals that may affect their health through food and drinking water.
Natura 2000 sites: nitrogen deposition on the decline, but still too high for much of nature The amount of nitrogen deposited on nature reserves that are vulnerable to this is falling. However, this decline is not sufficient to meet the targets the Dutch government has set itself. This is the conclusion of the RIVM monitoring report ‘Nitrogen deposition in Natura 2000 areas 2023’.
Respiratory infections now in season More and more people are coughing and sneezing, although it is not an epidemic at this point. The season in which respiratory infections circulate in the Netherlands has now started. There are various viruses that can cause respiratory infections.
RIVM and EFSA optimise new calculation model for mixture risk assessment Plant protection products (PPPs) are products used in agriculture to protect crops against, for example, fungi, insects and weeds.
Number of reported illnesses related to food consumption increases each year In 2022, there were 1,165 reported outbreaks of food-related infections. An outbreak means that two or more people become ill after consuming the same food. A total of 4,470 people became ill.
New study confirms: people in the Netherlands ingest too much PFAS People in the Netherlands are ingesting too much levels of PFAS through food and drinking water. New research by RIVM confirms this. However, the total quantity of PFAS is lower than previously calculated.
MEBI: 193 reports of suspected side effects of implants in 2022 In 2022, 193 individuals reported suspected side effects of implants to RIVM’s Dutch Reporting Centre for Adverse Effects of Medical Implants (MEBI). Most reports received concerned breast implants, copper IUDs and wrinkle fillers. This is highlighted in MEBI’s annual report.
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.
Safe recycling of textiles possible, but still in its infancy Textiles are produced using chemicals. Although many hazardous chemicals may no longer be used in textile production, they may still be present in donations of old clothing. RIVM has conducted a study into the safety of recycled textiles.
Less than half of Dutch people met the Physical Activity Guidelines in 2021 In 2021, 47% of people aged four years and older in the Netherlands got the amount of physical activity recommended by the Physical Activity Guidelines. Children aged 4 to 11 years were most likely to meet the standard. Conversely, young people between the ages of 12 and 17 fell short. This is the outcome of a study conducted by RIVM.