PFAS: concentrations closely monitored around the airport, which appears to be the only one to have contaminated soils and groundwater
Identified culprits
The study, conducted with over 1,600 participants and based on blood tests cross-referenced with detailed lifestyle questionnaires, identifies several determining factors. Age and gender play a role – men and older people generally have higher concentrations. The length of residence in the area also matters: living on site for more than ten years is associated with higher levels of contamination.
Much too high PFAS concentrations in the Meuse and the Ardennes at the Belgian border: “This is just the tip of the iceberg”
But two factors stand out clearly. Drinking tap water during the contamination period is a major determining factor. People who drank it regularly show significantly higher Pfas concentrations. The consumption of eggs from domestic farms is the second key factor: family vegetable gardens and chicken coops, fed by contaminated soils or water, are a significant exposure vector. Seafood also contributes, to a lesser extent, as do some textiles, cosmetics, and hygiene products – although their impact appears limited compared to the results.
Concrete recommendations
Based on these conclusions, ISSeP formulates several recommendations. Strict monitoring of drinking water quality must be maintained, a system already in place in Wallonia. As a precaution, residents in the affected areas are advised to avoid consuming eggs from their own production, pending further analysis. A specific study on self-produced eggs, at the scale of these zones but also across all of Wallonia, is also considered relevant. On a broader level, Wallonia aims to refine the mapping of Pfas in soils, reduce industrial discharges, and support European initiatives aimed at banning these substances at the source.
A Belgian company discharged wastewater containing PFAS in 2025
Wallonia’s Minister of Health and the Environment, Yves Coppieters, welcomes the progress represented by this publication. “Today, we are closing an important chapter for citizens: the one that allowed us to measure, understand, and explain the different exposures to Pfas.” He also highlights the responsiveness of water distributors, “now proactive in anticipating European standards,” while emphasizing the need to continue investigations and improve the regulatory framework.
