Negative swimming advice in Dordrecht recreational lake due to pfas

ANP

NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 16:32

Due to the pfas concentrations, the province of South Holland has issued a negative swimming advice for the Merwelanden recreational lake in Dordrecht. The toxic pfas can be harmful to health. The recreational lake is located a few kilometers from the factory of chemical company Chemours.

According to the province, the values ​​measured in the puddle in De Biesbosch National Park are not immediately alarming, but RIVM does recommend further investigation. The province agrees.

Out of precaution

“The research must show whether swimming in Merwelanden is sufficiently safe. We therefore give a negative swimming advice as a precaution,” says Frederik Zevenbergen deputy of the province of South Holland.

At thirteen swimming and recreational lakes in the Hollandse Delta and Rivierenland water boards, it has been investigated whether swimming is safe. The lakes have been compared to the recreational lake Berkendonk in Helmond, a lake where you can also swim safely according to new, stricter standards.

In twelve puddles the pfas concentration was equal to or lower than in Berkendonk. So you can swim in those puddles. The concentration is higher in Merwelanden and further research is required. The study will take approximately four weeks.

According to the RIVM, excessive exposure to pfas can have an effect on the immune system, cholesterol in the blood and the liver and can cause cancer.

At the end of June it was already known that the pfas values ​​in water around the Chemours factory in Dordrecht are alarmingly high. Measurements by the Rivierenland water board showed that the concentrations in the entire area are “far above the standard” that RIVM considers safe.

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