PFAS

PFAS-specific human biomonitoring (BMH-PFAS)

ZONE CHIEVRES – LATEST INFORMATION (15/02/2024) :

Difficulties have been encountered with blood sampling in some children under the age of 12. ISSeP has recently been able to offer capillary sampling, a new, simple and minimally invasive sampling method. This system, identical to that used by diabetics, involves collecting a single drop of blood via a prick (finger or heel). A conventional blood test is still recommended, however, as it enables the laboratory in charge of PFAS analyses to repeat the assay (control or additional analysis).
The parents of children for whom it has not been possible to take a blood sample will be contacted by the ISSeP to offer them a capillary sample. All parents of children under 12 interested in this alternative method are invited to register (https://bmh-pfas-zone-type1.issep.be/). Entries remain open until February 28, 2024.
Anyone who has already registered but was unable to attend a scheduled sampling session is invited to contact ISSeP again before February 28 ( biomonitoring@issep.be or 04/229.83.83).
The last two sessions currently scheduled for the Chièvres, Ath, Beloeil and Leuze-en-Hainaut areas will take place on Wednesday March 6 and 13. Additional sessions may be added if numbers warrant.
> Register here for the blood test campaign <


Information for Chièvres participants
Information for Chièvres participants
Information for Nandrin participants

How can you reduce your exposure to PFAS?

Context

Perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyls (PFAS) are chemical molecules of which over 4,700 different substances are currently known. Known and used for many years in the chemical industry, they are increasingly criticized for their potential effects on the environment and health. From January 12, 2026, Europe will adopt a standard limiting PFAS levels (the sum of 20 PFAS considered to be of greatest concern) to 100 ng/L in drinking water.

Exceedances of this future European standard were observed at the Chièvres catchment between October 2021 and March 2023. Since then, the implementation of various risk mitigation measures, including the installation of activated carbon filters at the Chièvres water tower in April 2023, have enabled PFAS levels to be restored below the future standard of 100 ng/L.

This was the case at the Chièvres catchment between October 2021 and March 2023. Since then, the implementation of various risk mitigation measures, including the installation of activated carbon filters at the Chièvres water tower in April 2023, have enabled PFAS levels to be restored below the future standard of 100 ng/L.

Société Wallonne des Eaux (SWDE) has been commissioned by the Walloon Government to analyze PFAS levels in water intended for human consumption in the 640 distribution zones in Wallonia. An exceedance of the future 100 ng/L standard was measured at Ronquières in November 2023, but also at Florennes (Corenne, Rosée and Flavion) and in the Nandrin region, with the Marnave and Armoulin catchments.

High levels of PFAS in the environment (but not in drinking water) were also found at Feluy and Nimy. For these areas, designated as “priority investigation zones” (ZIP) by the authorities, additional environmental studies began in December 2023 to analyze PFAS concentrations in various environmental matrices (e.g. soil, water).

The French Minister for the Environment has called for a assessment of the impregnation of the population served by tap water whose PFAS concentration exceeded the future standard of 100 ng/L, as well as of the population living near priority investigation zones, was carried out, and the ISSeP was commissioned to carry out these biomonitoring campaigns. To this end, blood samples will be collected from residents of the municipalities concerned, to enable PFAS measurements to be taken.

Objectives

L’objectif global de ce biomonitoring humain ciblé est d’objectiver l’exposition aux PFAS des habitants des zones d’étude.

Les niveaux d’imprégnation en PFAS mesurés chez les habitants des zones de Chièvres, Ronquières et des ZIP seront comparés aux niveaux mesurés dans la population générale wallonne, afin de déterminer s’il existe une surexposition aux PFAS des riverains des zones concernées par une contamination des eaux ou de l’environnement.

Sanitary reference values have been defined for certain PFAS (e.g.. PFOA, PFOS – References: Hölzer et al., 2021; Schümann et al., 2021 ). As a result, concentrations measured in the blood of local residents will be compared with these health reference values to determine whether there are any health risks.

Study areas

  • Zone type 1 :

Dans un premier temps, cette étude concerne les zones où les habitants ont été alimentés à un moment donné par une eau de distribution où des concentrations en PFAS étaient supérieures à la future norme de 100 ng/L. Firstly, the streets supplied by the Chièvres and Ronquières wells, then the Florennes and Nandrin areas.

  • Zone type 2:

In a second phase, this study will be extended to priority investigation zones (ZIP), the perimeter of which will be defined as knowledge of PFAS contamination evolves (e.g. around the investigation zones defined by the Administration in Feluy and Nimy).

Substances

Perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyls (PFASs) are a group of more than 4,700 man-made chemicals with numerous applications thanks to their water, grease and dirt repellent properties. They have been used since the 1950s in numerous industrial applications and consumer products (textiles, packaging, cosmetics, stoves, etc.). In the past, these substances were used in fire-fighting foams, often found on military bases, airports, emergency service training areas…

PFAS are known as “eternal chemicals” because they are extremely persistent in our environment and in our bodies. PFAS, notably PFOS and PFOA, also have undesirable properties that can have harmful effects on humans, animals and the environment.

List of PFAS tested in serum (blood ) :

Minimum 7 PFAS substances: PFOS, PFOA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFNA, PFDA and PFHxS

FAQ

What should I do if I want an analysis?

Initially, the campaign is open to all people who live or have lived between 2017 and the present day in the area served by the Château de Chièvres, but also to Ronquières residents. If you meet all these criteria and would like a blood test for PFAS, please complete the online registration form https://bmh-pfas-zone-type1.issep.be/.

If you have any questions, please contact us by e-mail at biomonitoring@issep.be or by telephone on 04 229 83 83 .

When and how does this participation take place?

The first blood sampling campaign will start in January 2024 for the Chièvres-Ath-Beloeil-Leuze-en-Hainaut area, followed by the Ronquières area, then Florennes and Nandrin.

Directly (a few minutes) after your online registration, you will receive an e-mail confirming that your request has been registered. If this is not the case, there’s probably an error in your e-mail address. Please contact us.

After checking your request, the project team will validate your registration and you will receive an e-mail containing the following information:

  • Date, time and place of blood test appointment
  • An information document and consent form
  • Your participant code and security code to make your participation anonymous
  • A link to an online questionnaire to be completed no later than the day before your appointment. This will enable us to gather information about your lifestyle, diet, home, general state of health, etc. (estimated time: ~30 minutes).

On the day of the sampling session, you will be asked to confirm your participation by signing the consent form (parents’ signatures will be required for minors wishing to participate).

Once you have agreed to take part, a blood sample will be taken by qualified and specially trained healthcare professionals.

During the appointment, you will of course still have time to ask any questions you may have before making up your mind!

The blood samples are then sent to the laboratory for analysis. When all the analysis results are available, they will be encoded, along with the questionnaire responses, in a database. This is when statistical analysis and interpretation begins. A report on the collective results will then be drawn up.

Will there be any costs involved?

Participation in the campaign is free of charge.

What happens to my blood sample, data and results?

Your blood sample and data will only be used based on your informed consent and in a way that protects your privacy according to the European regulation ‘RGPD’ and national requirements. The published results of the study will not identify you in any way.

A unique, random code (impossible to decode) consisting of numbers and letters will be assigned to each participant. This code will then remove all personally identifiable information to protect your privacy and prevent your data from being tracked. Only the people in charge of the project will have knowledge of and access to the identification information required to ensure the return of your results.

Your coded blood sample will be transferred to the specialized laboratory for analysis. It will then be examined to measure your exposure to PFAS. Your sample will then be stored by ISSeP and the laboratory in a biobank for up to 20 years for possible use in future ethically approved chemical exposure studies. Coded data collected from you and other participants will be stored and may be used for research purposes and/or combined with other data from different sources. Data sharing will be facilitated by data infrastructures and/or dedicated information systems.

The overall results of the study will be communicated to regional, national and European authorities in order to support political actions linked to the management of chemicals for the protection of public health. They will also be disseminated to other stakeholders, including the general public, scientists and other interested parties.

How and when can I find out my personal results?

The ISSeP team will inform you of your results by post or e-mail/sms.

The collective results of the study will be published in a study report and made available to the public on the ISSeP website www.issep.be/biomonitoring.

Documents

Useful links

http://environnement.sante.wallonie.be/pfas

Contact

For further information, please contact :

Ingrid RUTHY, Aline JACQUES and Eric GISMONDI
ISSeP – Cellule Environnement-Santé, 200 Rue du Chéra – 4000 Liège
Tel. . 04.229.83.83 (ISSeP reception: 04 229 83 11)
Email : biomonitoring@issep.be