The major fire at waste processor AVR in the Botlek area near Rotterdam, which raged on Friday and Saturday, may have released toxic substances. The GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond reports on Tuesday that research by the Environmental Accident Service of the RIVM has shown that high concentrations of potentially harmful substances have been released. People can ingest them through food. At too high concentrations they can be harmful to health.
The dioxins mainly ended up via soot particles in the area between Vlaardingen and Maassluis, on the other side of the Scheur river, according to the first measurements. The exceedance of the limit is so high that additional measurements are being carried out in part of Midden-Delfland to see where the dioxins have spread. The results are expected at the end of this week.
Until then, the GGD advises livestock farmers so-called (yellow) ‘effect area’ between Maassluis and Vlaardingen to keep their cows indoors. The GGD also advises residents of Maasland, Vlaardingen and Maassluis not to eat eggs from hobby chickens for the time being. According to the health service, fruit and vegetables from your own garden can be eaten, but only after washing them properly.
