Environmental group calls for investigation into health risks near Brussels Airport

Bond Beter Leefmilieu and residents groups around Brussels Airport are calling on Flemish Environment minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA) to investigate the health risks to people living near the airport. The explicit request comes as Dutch research shows that carcinogenic emissions at and around Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport exceed the limits for industrial plants many times over.

At the request of the Dutch government, the Dutch research institute TNO calculated the mass flow (emissions per hour) of eight types of carcinogenic volatile substances from aircraft landing and taking off at Schiphol. The study shows that for seven of the eight substances studied, emissions from air traffic at and around Schiphol exceed the applicable Dutch standards for industrial companies by a factor of 100 to as much as 3,000 times.

According to Bond Beter Leefmilieu (BBL), the umbrella organisation for Flemish environmental and nature organisations, citizens, governments and companies, the emission figures from aircraft cannot be compared to those from industrial companies.

"Emissions are highest when aircraft are stationary, moving or descending, which also poses serious health risks to airport workers"

"Emissions from moving aircraft are spread over a larger area than from a stationary smokestack. As a result, more people are exposed," says Jasper Wouters of the BBL. "Emissions are highest when aircraft are stationary, moving or descending, which also poses serious health risks to airport workers".

"The government has a duty to inform and protect residents and workers from possible health risks"

A similar study should be carried out in Belgium, says the BBL. "The government has a duty to inform and protect residents and workers from possible health risks," says Wouters.

Flemish minister Demir says she will discuss Bond Beter Leefmilieu's request with Hilde Crevits (CD&V), minister for Social Affairs and Public Health.

Earlier this week, a study by BBL revealed that planes at Brussels Airport cause serious nuisance to 220,000 residents. The cost of health damage would amount to more than 1 billion euros per year. Yesterday, Federal Mobility minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo) said he wants to see a proposal on noise pollution at Brussels Airport before the summer break.

^{#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE}