People living around Tata Steel exposed to many harmful substances: RIVM - NL Times

People living in the vicinity of Tata Steel in IJmuiden are exposed to far more harmful substances than people living elsewhere. The amount of lead is even so high that it can have consequences for locals residents' health, it exceeds the health-based limit. This also applies to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).

At the end of last year, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) collected dust from dozens of places in Wijk aan Zee, Beverwijk, Velsen, IJmuiden, and Heemskerk. This happened both on the street and in people's homes. The composition of the dust particles was analyzed in a laboratory. The samples were compared with dust collected in Amersfoort, De Rijp (near Alkmaar), and De Zilk (near Noordwijk). Places that are far from Tata Steel.

Researchers measured about 900 times as much vanadium, 160 times as much manganese, and 150 times as much iron in the dust from Wijk aan Zee as outside the IJmond. "This especially applies to the locations closest to the Tata Steel site," according to the RIVM. Other substances commonly measured near Tata Steel were chromium, magnesium, nickel, arsenic, cadmium, aluminum, calcium, strontium, barium, copper, cobalt, and zinc.

The levels of the substances inside the houses were lower than outside on the street, but here too it was higher than outside the IJmond. For example, the amount of lead indoors in Wijk aan Zee was more than a hundred times higher than in Amersfoort.

A substance like lead is very...

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