News | RIVM

Breast implants can cause health problems even five years or more after placement

Over the past 5 years, the Dutch reporting and expertise centre for adverse effects of medical implants (MEBI) has received 977 reports of health problems related to breast implants. An analysis by RIVM has shown that 39% of the reported health problems started 5 or more years after the implant’s placement.

RIVM and TNO describe impact of future developments on occupational health and safety

RIVM and the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) have investigated the potential impact of developments in the next 20 years on occupational health and safety. How will artificial intelligence affect safety at work?

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Safe working practices: RIVM creates a list of 1,400 substances without a European occupational exposure limit for health purposes

Employees sometimes come into contact with hazardous substances at work. RIVM has compiled a list of 1,400 hazardous substances for which the European Commission has not yet set an occupational exposure limit.

NS did not adequately protect employees from exposure to chromium (VI)

Employees of Dutch Railways (NS) may have been exposed to chromium (VI) between 1970 and 2020. Although it is not known exactly how often or how much this occurred, it is reasonable to assume that NS employees who were exposed to chromium (VI) may develop certain medical conditions.

Hypersensitivity reactions to fillers may occur after COVID-19 vaccination

People may experience hypersensitivity reactions to fillers following a COVID-19 vaccination.

Chromium-6 from medical implants not harmful to health

Chromium-6 from medical implants, such as hip or knee implants, does not result in severe health damage.

Most reports received by MEBI in 2021 concerned copper IUDs

More reports of suspected adverse effects from copper intrauterine devices (IUDs) were made in 2021 than in previous years, according to the annual report of the Dutch reporting and expertise centre for adverse effects of medical implants (MEBI).

uitgestoken hand van arts met daarin een koperspiraaltje

Shortcomings in the technical documentation of mesh implants intended to treat pelvic organ prolapse used in the Netherlands

After a detailed assessment of the technical documentation of 9 different mesh implants intended to treat pelvic organ prolapse used in NL (2018) RIVM concludes that the safety and performance of these products were not properly substantiated.

More reports of adverse effects of implants in 2019

In 2019, the Dutch reporting centre for adverse effects of medical implants (MEBI) received 397 reports of suspected adverse effects. The reports concerned 462 implants.

Mesh implants intended to treat pelvic organ prolapse

Synthetic mesh are used to treat patients with pelvic organ prolapse.