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Doctors and healthcare organisations are urging the Dutch government to curb PFAS pollution and replace medical devices containing the chemicals.
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In a letter published on Wednesday, doctors and healthcare organisations acting on behalf of Stichting Tegengif called on the Dutch government to ban PFAS discharges and support a Europe-wide ban on the chemicals. They also want healthcare providers to stop using medical devices containing PFAS. [1]
The letter was addressed to state secretary Annet Bertam and infrastructure and water management minister Vincent Karremans. The reported signatories include the Groene Zorg Alliantie, Caring Doctors and several Dutch medical associations. They want the Netherlands to take a leading role in developing PFAS-free medical devices. [1]
Stichting Tegengif says PFAS barely break down and enter the body mainly through food and drinking water. The Dutch public health institute RIVM is cited as estimating that almost three-quarters of people in the Netherlands have blood PFAS levels above a health-based threshold. [1]
Intensive-care specialist Diederik Gommers, a signatory, said many PFAS-free medical devices are already available. He expects intensive care could be PFAS-free within a few years. [1]
1 listed sources · explore evidence, limitations and provenance.
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