Chemours is responsible for PFAS pollution, Dutch court rules

By Rebecca Trager | Chemistry World | October 6, 2023

Read the full article by Rebecca Trager (Chemistry World)

"Chemours will be held accountable for environmental damage in the Netherlands caused by releases of dangerous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) between 1984 and at least 1998, the Dutch district court in Rotterdam ruled in an interim decision on 27 September. This civil case involves releases from a plant in Dordrecht.

Chemours said it is ‘currently studying’ the interim ruling, while stressing the importance of looking beyond this judgment. ‘Irrespective of any potential future legal processes, which can often take years, we would like to find a way to take (concrete) action towards our environment sooner. We hear the concerns of residents near our location in Dordrecht and they affect us,’ the company said in a statement.  

‘These actions will focus on mapping out an approach and on providing technical and financial support,’ the company added, noting for example the potential of a fund with which the municipalities involved can finance such activities, through a joint consultation."