BRUSSELS: Belgian authorities on Tuesday warned US conglomerate 3M it may have to end activities at a plant near the city of Antwerp after blood samples of nearby residents showed worrying signs of exposure to pollution.

“The company has two days to prove beyond all doubt that it is not exposing the inhabitants of Zwijndrecht to excess risk through its emissions,” said a statement from the environment minister for the Flemish region of Belgium, Zuhal Demir.

“If they cannot prove that, they must immediately cease all production processes that are causing the emissions,” the statement said.

The 3M plant in Zwijndrecht makes products from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a widely used family of synthetic chemicals that withstand intense heat and can repel water and grease.

They can be found in cars, planes, clothes, leather, household products, electronics, food processing and medical articles.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2021