NL Times reported that people living in the vicinity of Tata Steel in IJmuiden in Netherland 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. 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 analysed in a laboratory. The samples were compared with dust collected in Amersfoort, De Rijp and De Zilk, 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. 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.The RIVM did not take measurements at the chimneys of Tata itself, but the results indicate that a considerable part of the settled dust originated from the Tata Steel site. Further research should provide more clarity on this. RIVM researcher Janneke Elberse said "It's not that people get sick right away if they ingest something, but it's an exposure you shouldn't want. Any exposure can increase the risk a little bit. That risk is on the small side, but it is there.”Tata Steel said it understands that there are concerns in the area of the factory in Ijmuiden and is studying the. It said "We strive to minimize the impact of the processes on the environment, which is a continuous process. The measures that have already been taken in recent years have meanwhile led to a significant decrease in emissions of, among other things, dust and noise in the environment."
NL Times reported that people living in the vicinity of Tata Steel in IJmuiden in Netherland 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. 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 analysed in a laboratory. The samples were compared with dust collected in Amersfoort, De Rijp and De Zilk, 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. 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.The RIVM did not take measurements at the chimneys of Tata itself, but the results indicate that a considerable part of the settled dust originated from the Tata Steel site. Further research should provide more clarity on this. RIVM researcher Janneke Elberse said "It's not that people get sick right away if they ingest something, but it's an exposure you shouldn't want. Any exposure can increase the risk a little bit. That risk is on the small side, but it is there.”Tata Steel said it understands that there are concerns in the area of the factory in Ijmuiden and is studying the. It said "We strive to minimize the impact of the processes on the environment, which is a continuous process. The measures that have already been taken in recent years have meanwhile led to a significant decrease in emissions of, among other things, dust and noise in the environment."
