Eurofins Announces the Launch of the Largest European Biomonitoring Project for PFAS in Blood in Antwerp, Belgium

Regulatory News:

Eurofins Scientific (EUFI.PA) (Paris:ERF), the global leader in environmental testing and a global scientific leader in bioanalytical testing, announces the commencement of the largest European biomonitoring project for PFAS in blood in Antwerp, commissioned by the Agency for Care and Health of the Flemish Government. The biomonitoring testing for this project will be carried out by Eurofins Belgium NV.

PFAS, per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a class of over 4,700 synthetic chemicals with unique characteristics that can be used to make products heat and stain resistant, non-stick and water repellent. Sometimes referred to as ‘forever chemicals’ PFAS are very stable compounds that are largely unsusceptible to degradation and accumulate and persist in the environment. Accumulation of PFAS in blood has been linked to a number of health risks.

In June 2022, 70,000 inhabitants in a 5km zone around the 3M factory in Antwerp, Belgium were invited to participate in a biomonitoring project to assess whether PFAS is present in their blood. In the coming days an additional 22,000 inhabitants of the city of Antwerp will receive an invitation to participate. Currently 7,450 people have subscribed to the project, and registration will be open to participants until 1 June 2023 at https://www.vlaanderen.be/pfas-vervuiling/zwijndrecht/pfas-bloedonderz .... All participants will receive results indicating the level of PFAS present in their blood within 14 working days.

This research project is fully funded by the Flemish Government and PFAS testing is made available to all participants for free. The goal of this project is to provide participants with information about their own personal exposure to PFAS. Data collected from the study will also provide insights to inform recommendations and decision making in relation to how human PFAS exposure can be limited in the future, both in Belgium and further afield.

Project kick-off will commence in October 2022 with Eurofins Labo Van Poucke beginning to take blood samples at the beginning of 2023 at a number of locations close to participants. Blood sampling will be carried out through the traditional venous method and/or via capillary blood sampling (finger prick) utilising Eurofins empowerDX test kits. Eurofins Belgium NV and the Agency for Care and Health of the Flemish Government are aiming to maximise participation levels in order to generate useful and representative data and insights. The findings of the biomonitoring study will be ultimately presented by June 2025.