Hasselt (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Environmental groups in Limburg, like Greenpeace and Grandparents for the Climate, are protesting against PFAS pollution from Tenneco. They’re worried about health and farming and want the government to take action.
Environmental groups in Limburg, like Grandparents for the Climate, Greenpeace, Climaxi, and Extinction Rebellion, are really worried about PFAS in the soil. PFAS are harmful chemicals often caused by pollution from industries. These groups believe the contamination problem is bigger than just the known polluted places like Ines and 3M in Antwerp. To raise awareness, they protested at the provincial government building in Limburg. Later, some members from these groups went to the provincial government to share their worries and ask for action. They wanted to show how important it is to address PFAS contamination and push for measures to protect the environment and public health.
How are PFAS chemicals from Tenneco affecting Limburg’s environment?
Hugo from Grandparents for the Climate brings eggs and vegetables from his farm, which people living in polluted areas can no longer eat. He points out that harmful chemicals are in the soil and water, affecting hormones and getting into food. The group wants the government to recognize how dangerous these chemicals are and to handle anything related to PFAS with care. Meanwhile, Marc from Greenpeace highlights that a company named Tenneco is still allowed to release these chemicals in Sint-Truiden, causing pollution in the Melsterbeek river. Farmers are concerned because they use this water for their animals and crops, worrying about its impact on health and the environment.
Marc from Greenpeace talks about how pollution from the Tenneco company goes into the Melsterbeek river, which is important for farmers. They use this water to drink and to water their crops and fruit trees. The problem is that the harmful chemicals in the water could hurt the animals and affect the food quality, raising concerns about safety and health. Deputy Inge Moors from the CD&V party understands these worries and says they carefully consider permits. Tenneco has to report its PFAS releases every six months, and while they want a new permit, they’re not changing pollution limits, they just want to improve their water treatment by adding a carbon filter.
