ToxicoWatch (TW) NL Biomonitoring interim report, April 2025, with the support of Zero Waste Europe, presents not only the follow-up of initial biomonitoring results (NL TW-Report, March 2024, as well supported by Zero Waste Europe) on dioxins, PAH, and PFAS in eggs and eggshells of backyard chickens, and vegetation. However also an extension of heavy metal analyses on soil, water and mosses (bryophytes) in the surrounding environment of Waste-to-Energy (WtE) incinerator REC, Harlingen, the Netherlands. Reference samples were collected by TW-team at locations at 15 km northeast of the incinerator, in the dominant wind direction.
Annex 1: Lab results
Annex 2: Achievements 12-year TW-biomonitoring Harlingen region
Annex 3: Challenging biomonitoring. Biomass, WUR, biomonitoring grass samples Harlingen region
Key findings Biomonitoring Harlingen region, 2024 (Report April 2025):
- Samples of soil in the vicinity of the WtE incinerator REC were analysed by using the innovative PFAS CALUX bioassay, showing PFAS results of 110 and 570 ng PFOA eq./g dw.
- In 2024, water samples from a surface water ditch on agriculture land, contained 610 ng PFOA eq. /l, exceeding the Dutch drinking water limit of 4.4 ng PFOA eq./l (RIVM, 2023) by a factor of 138.
- Heavy metal analysis showed significantly elevated concentrations of mercury ( Hg), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) and in soil and moss (bryophytes) samples.
