Dealing with substances of high concern and emerging contaminants: a challenge for governments

Our environment is affected by a wide range of chemicals. Some have only recently been introduced, while others have been around for much longer but have only recently come to our attention because of their harmful effects. An example that everyone will be familiar with is PFAS (poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances), but you can also think of drug residues and pesticides.

Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) and contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC)

Our central government has compiled a list of about 1,500 Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC), which are known to be harmful, toxic or persistent. This SVHC list is considerably more extensive than, for example, the list of undesirable substances in the Soil Protection Act.

In addition to the SVHCs, there are also the so-called Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC). These are substances for which the potential for harm is yet to be determined and for which no environmental standards have been established. This potentially involves tens of thousands of substances.

Because of our expertise, we have been invited to be part of The Network “Drug Residues from Water North Netherlands. Read more about this initiative here.

What we can do for you?

We offer targeted support to governments and other stakeholders in addressing these complex issues:​

  1. Monitoring programs​
  2. Collaboration and policy
  3. Framework development
  4. Innovative impact assessments
  5. Chemical Research including Non-Target Analysis

  1. Monitoring programs
    We offer comprehensive monitoring programs focusing on:
    • New insights into the transport of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC) and Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) through the integrated soil-water system (source-path analysis).
    • Early detection of SVHCs and CECs, allowing faster and more effective intervention.
    • Coordination and cooperation between stakeholders in the water chain for consistent and comprehensive monitoring and actionable results.
    • Interpretation of SVHCs measurements to better understand risks and impacts.
  2. Collaboration and policyWe advise and facilitate collaborative efforts between stakeholders in the water chain aimed at identify risks early and share this information with policymakers and regulators.
  3. Framework development
    We develop action frameworks for SVHCs and CECS to help governments and companies make informed decisions about the management of soil, water and (recyclable) feedstocks in relation to SVHCs.
  4. Innovative impact assessments
    We are working on the development and application of advanced impact measurements for soil and solid streams (such as sediment, waste and raw materials) combined with chemical analysis. These measurements focus on aspects such as mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, endocrine disruption, antibiotic resistance and leachability. This is a long-term process that we aim to realise together with supply chain partners to get a more complete picture of the impact of emerging substances.
  5. Chemical Research including Non-Target Analysis
    We conduct chemical research, including non-target analysis (NTA), at various landfills on behalf of municipalities and provinces to gain a better understanding of the presence and risks of hazardous substances.

 

We can help you create a secure and healthy living environment

Are you facing challenges with Contaminants of Emerging Concern or Substances of Very High Concern in your region? We support you with advice and technical solutions: from monitoring and signaling to advice and impact measurements.

Contact one of our experts today.

Contact Freek

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