In addition, the report expands on previous advice and the mandatory preparation of a Health Effects Report (GER) in permits. Because “healthy green steel” already exists? Yes, says President Levy. “There are places in the world where steel is produced without the environment and health suffering significantly. Removing all emissions is impossible, but it could be much better than the current situation at Tata Steel.”
What worries the team of experts is the number of accidents that have occurred at Tata Steel. In other words, unlicensed emissions, which are substances that can be harmful to human health and the environment. According to the steel company itself, this amounts to three thousand accidents annually. “That’s eight a day,” Levy says. “This is causing a lot of unrest and mistrust among the local population.”
Ultrafine dust is a major concern
In addition to the previous advice, the expert group adds two new points of criticism: ultrafine dust and noise pollution. According to the expert team, the amount of ultrafine particles will increase during the transition to “green steel”, making continuous monitoring necessary. Scientific evidence shows that long-term exposure to ultrafine particles has a harmful effect on health. Especially on the respiratory system, heart, and growth and development of the fetus.
“We now know enough to include nanoparticles, but to achieve this we need a good measurement network,” Levy says. “Continuous measurements are currently being made in several places in the Netherlands, but it is striking that the Egmond area has not yet been included.”
In addition, the report emphasizes that noise pollution must also be taken into account when determining health impacts. Prolonged exposure to noise can cause stress and other health problems.
Environmental rules today
The report notes that many facilities at Tata Steel, such as the Cox 2 plant, are still operating under outdated environmental regulations that are decades old. Levy calls it “almost ironic” that the older the installation, the less stringent the environmental standards applied. “The Kooks 2 plant is about fifty years old and was built at a time when there were no regulations regarding emissions and environmental impact,” says Levy. “But current times require more stringent standards to protect the health of local residents.” Therefore, the expert group is sending an urgent appeal to the government to modernize environmental regulations and adapt them to contemporary requirements.
The Healthy Egmond expert team, appointed for two years, will publish a third report in a few months. The report will focus on the need for Tata Steel to be more transparent and regain the trust of the local population.
