Subheading: Belgium – Brussels Region: ClientEarth accuses Belgian authorities of failing to adequately protect residents from widespread PFAS contamination and related public health risks
Belgium is facing renewed scrutiny over its handling of PFAS contamination after environmental law organisation ClientEarth filed a human rights complaint against the country, alleging authorities failed to adequately protect residents from the health risks associated with the so-called “forever chemicals.”
The complaint was submitted to the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR), with ClientEarth arguing that Belgium has breached its legal obligation to safeguard public health by responding too slowly and inadequately to mounting evidence of widespread PFAS pollution.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of synthetic chemicals widely used in industrial manufacturing and consumer products because of their non-stick, waterproof, grease-resistant, and heat-resistant properties.
These chemicals have earned the nickname “forever chemicals” because they break down extremely slowly in the environment. As a result, they accumulate in soil, groundwater, rivers, wildlife, and the human body over time, making them one of the world’s most persistent environmental pollutants.
Scientific research has linked prolonged exposure to certain PFAS compounds with a range of serious health conditions, including cancers, hormonal disorders, weakened immune systems, liver damage, fertility problems, and developmental issues in children.
ClientEarth argues that Belgium has become one of Europe’s most severe examples of PFAS contamination. A major cross-border investigation published in 2023 identified Belgium as having the highest concentration of known PFAS pollution sites across the continent.
The chemicals have been detected in every Belgian region, including drinking water supplies, agricultural land, industrial zones, and residential communities located near major pollution sources.
Among the most heavily affected locations is the area surrounding the 3M manufacturing facility in Zwijndrecht, Flanders, where years of industrial activity have resulted in extensive PFAS contamination affecting nearby residents and farmland.
Another area highlighted in the complaint is the neighbourhood surrounding the former SICLI fire extinguisher manufacturing site in Uccle, Brussels, where PFAS contamination has also raised concerns among residents and environmental groups.
ClientEarth’s submission includes testimony from people living in contaminated communities, illustrating the human impact behind the environmental crisis.
One resident, Toon Penen of Zwijndrecht, said he had lived for years without knowing that his neighbourhood was considered one of Europe’s worst PFAS contamination hotspots.
According to Penen, authorities failed to provide timely and transparent information that would have allowed residents to understand the risks they faced and take appropriate precautions.
He described how the contamination has fundamentally changed his relationship with his own property, saying that activities once associated with safety and relaxation, such as gardening or allowing children and pets to play outdoors, are now overshadowed by concerns about invisible chemical pollution.
The issue has also drawn growing attention in Brussels, where citizen organisation We Are Nature.Brussels has campaigned for years for stronger action to address PFAS contamination and improve public awareness.
Belgian authorities have introduced several initiatives in recent years to investigate and manage PFAS pollution. These include biomonitoring programmes, environmental clean-up agreements, stricter monitoring, and participation in broader European efforts aimed at restricting PFAS use.
Several PFAS substances have already been banned or restricted across the European Union, while additional regulations are currently under discussion at the European level.
However, ClientEarth argues that these measures remain insufficient given the scale of contamination already affecting communities across Belgium.
The organisation acknowledges that government activity has increased since 2021 but maintains that authorities repeatedly failed to act quickly when early warnings emerged.
ClientEarth lawyer Hélène Duguy said officials have too often responded with further studies, investigations, or limited measures rather than decisive action capable of reducing exposure and protecting public health.
At the federal level, the organisation argues Belgium has concentrated primarily on research projects while relying heavily on future European legislation instead of implementing stronger national measures immediately.
ClientEarth also claims that several proposed funding mechanisms and restrictions designed to reduce PFAS pollution have experienced significant delays before being fully implemented.
Duguy argued that waiting for upcoming European Union regulations cannot justify postponing stronger domestic action, especially when substantial evidence of contamination has already been available for years.
Belgium’s federal government rejected suggestions that it has remained inactive. A spokesperson for Federal Climate Minister Jean-Luc Crucke said a national PFAS strategy has already been developed and approved alongside existing environmental protection measures.
The spokesperson acknowledged that Belgium faces serious contamination, much of which originates from decades of industrial activity, but stressed that authorities continue strengthening their response rather than ignoring the issue.
Regional governments also disputed several aspects of ClientEarth’s allegations.
According to the complaint, Flanders has focused too narrowly on major contamination hotspots without fully addressing broader environmental pollution affecting surrounding areas.
ClientEarth argues that Wallonia was slow to publicly recognise contamination despite evidence gathered over several years, delaying stronger public health measures.
In Brussels, the organisation criticised what it described as insufficient biomonitoring programmes and an overly reactive approach to managing contamination incidents after they occur.
Brussels Environment rejected those claims, stating that the region has progressively strengthened its PFAS strategy since 2019 through structured programmes designed to understand and manage both environmental and health risks.
Officials said the regional government takes PFAS contamination seriously and continues expanding monitoring and prevention measures as scientific knowledge evolves.
Meanwhile, the Walloon administration noted that investigations into PFAS contamination date back to 2015, with multiple monitoring programmes and action plans introduced over the following years.
Regional officials argued that while additional measures can always be identified with hindsight, it is inaccurate to suggest the government ignored the problem or failed to develop a comprehensive understanding of contamination across Wallonia.
ClientEarth believes the Belgian case reflects a broader international pattern in which governments often delay regulatory action despite accumulating scientific evidence regarding hazardous chemicals.
According to Duguy, similar trends have been observed across Europe and the United States, where regulatory responses frequently lag behind scientific warnings about the risks posed by PFAS and other persistent pollutants.
The environmental organisation hopes the complaint will encourage Belgium to strengthen protections for affected communities while also prompting governments elsewhere to adopt faster and more comprehensive responses.
Beyond environmental regulation, ClientEarth says the case aims to emphasise that PFAS contamination is fundamentally a human rights issue, affecting people’s health, homes, livelihoods, and confidence in public institutions responsible for protecting them.
The European Committee of Social Rights will now examine the complaint, a process that could place additional legal and political pressure on Belgium to further strengthen its approach to tackling one of Europe’s most significant chemical contamination challenges.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members