People living in Belgium’s Wallonia region have become increasingly aware of a scandal. It’s about the increasingly acknowledged toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. This so-called “TSCA inventory” constitutes a subset of the over 10,000 human-made chemicals. You’ll find them in thousands of everyday products, from nonstick pans to stain-resistant carpets. Concerns have escalated as investigations reveal that authorities ignored alarming levels of PFAS in drinking water, prompting urgent actions from both local and federal entities.
As it is, the United States military raised an alarm when it recommended that its personnel in the area stop drinking tap water. This alert was issued due to dangerously elevated PFAS levels. Many local residents were kept in the dark about the unsafe condition for decades. This is even though the regional government was warned of toxic contamination as early as 2018.
In early 2023, local broadcaster RTBF led an exhaustive reporting investigation. In doing so, they exposed how state and local officials brushed off repeated and well-known warnings about dangerously high PFAS levels, exacerbating public fears. At Braine-le-Château, water samples tested found cause for alarm. These measurements showed PFAS concentrations up to five–six times above the new enforceable safety standard of 4 nanograms per liter (ng/L).
Government Response and Public Health Measures
In response to the escalating health crisis, nearly 1,300 residents across approximately 10 municipalities participated in blood sampling campaigns aimed at confirming exposure to PFAS. Local leaders kicked off this effort in June 2023. It’s a hopeful picture of their renewed commitment to addressing the public health crises caused by chemical exposures.
Yves Coppieters, a spokesperson for the regional government, stated, “We have taken radical measures and all our distributors are now complying with this standard.” He recognized that the public is rightfully up in arms over the crisis. He stressed that without transparency about the pollution’s origins, it could take years or even decades to address.
The Belgian national government, as well as the region of Flanders, are strongly supportive of pushing forward pioneering European Union regulatory frameworks. By 2025, drinking water can have no more than 100 ng/L of 20 substances from the PFAS family. This is an encouraging decision and it shows that regulators are serious about protecting public safety while balancing the mounting opposition to environmental health dangers.
Investigations and Past Warnings
The current crisis didn’t just happen overnight. In 2017, the Department of Defense released a warning that enabled civilian water utilities to test for PFAS from military firefighting foam, which was discovered at dangerous levels. Even after these warnings, local authorities were slow to react, and at first, they characterized the situation as not that serious.
Douglas, a concerned resident, expressed frustration with the lack of transparency, stating, “Initially local authorities told us that measurements were reassuring, but in reality, they didn’t have any and were simply trying to keep people calm as best they could.” This bad faith sentiment represents a much larger and growing anger among residents who believe they were misled about the dangers PFAS contamination presents to their communities.
Large-scale blood testing will roll out in Chievres in early 2024. This program will grow beyond the immediate area and continue to adapt as the context changes. Results from these blood tests should drive new health recommendations to protect people, informed by confirmed exposure levels.
International Response and Implications
This PFAS scandal in Belgium represents a new chapter in the international conversation around chemical safety and accountability. Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have created an alliance. They’ve been to the European Parliament, lobbying for the EU to legislate a ban on the production, sale and use of almost all PFAS. The need for this proposal speaks to the increasing acknowledgment by many that these chemicals can pose serious health risks.
This is the punishment meted out by an Italian court, finding culpability of up to 17 years in prison for executives of a chemical plant. They were found guilty of poisoning the water supply with PFAS. This ruling is just one example of a growing trend toward holding accountable those who wrongfully harm our environment through hazardous contamination.