Overview
- The municipality of Oost Gelre disclosed on June 10 that soil on and around the former Vitelco tannery in Lichtenvoorde contains chromium, PAK, mineral oil and PFAS.
- Oost Gelre has sent about 270 letters to nearby residents, set up a public consultation hour, and advised people not to use privately pumped groundwater for drinking, garden watering or filling pools.
- The GGD Noord- en Oost-Gelderland has said more research is needed on health effects and the municipality has commissioned a specialist follow-up soil investigation expected to take eight to ten weeks.
- Provincial testing in Gelderland found PFAS above the safety norm at four sites linked to former or current fire stations in Arnhem, Hedel, Epe and Terwolde, and about 75 other locations showed elevated but sub-threshold PFAS levels.
- The national state secretary has declined to publish a central map of contaminated sites for now and will consult municipalities in July, while officials say identified polluters can be held responsible for cleanup and tap water from public systems remains safe.