PFAS are known as "forever chemicals" because they do not break down in nature. They are also quite bad for most animals, including of course humans.
The 3M plant has been illegally dumping significant amounts of PFAS in the environment, both in the air and by dumping it in a river.
During a test, over 90% of the 800ish people living within a 2-mile radius of the plant had amounts of PFAS in their body exceeding safe limits, with 60% reaching levels which could have health effects.
An area of about 3 square mile around the plant is contaminated significantly enough that 3M has been made liable for sanitation.
The government has of course ordered 3M to cease dumping PFAS, which I guess is the reason they are now cutting output. The story is made even more complicated because it's happening a few miles upstream from the Belgium - The Netherlands border so it is cross-border pollution - and The Netherlands is currently working to turn some land near the border into a wetlands nature reserve.
PFAS are known as "forever chemicals" because they do not break down in nature. They are also quite bad for most animals, including of course humans. The 3M plant has been illegally dumping significant amounts of PFAS in the environment, both in the air and by dumping it in a river.
During a test, over 90% of the 800ish people living within a 2-mile radius of the plant had amounts of PFAS in their body exceeding safe limits, with 60% reaching levels which could have health effects. An area of about 3 square mile around the plant is contaminated significantly enough that 3M has been made liable for sanitation.
The government has of course ordered 3M to cease dumping PFAS, which I guess is the reason they are now cutting output. The story is made even more complicated because it's happening a few miles upstream from the Belgium - The Netherlands border so it is cross-border pollution - and The Netherlands is currently working to turn some land near the border into a wetlands nature reserve.