The Provincial Institute of Hygiene (PIH) today announced the results of half-yearly measurements of lead in the blood of children living near the Umicore site in Hoboken. The results show a decrease in blood lead levels to an average of 2.34 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dl) compared to spring 2024 and fall 2023.
This is the first full survey year that measurements took place in an expanded perimeter northeast of the plant to reach more children, partly at Umicore's request. Since 1978, the surveys were conducted in the Moretusburg-Hertogvelden neighborhoods, closest to the site. With the relocation related to the arrival of the green zone adjacent to the site, Visputten, Kapelstraat and Vinkevelden have since the fall of 2023 been included in the voluntary measurements.
A total of 287 children participated in the measurements. Among children in the Moretusburg and Hertogvelden neighborhoods the average dropped to 2.46 µg/dl from 2.96 µg/dl.
"The continued decline in blood lead levels of children in the vicinity of our Hoboken site demonstrates the effectiveness of our long-standing environmental improvement efforts and ongoing commitment. With an annual investment of 25 million euros in innovative environmental projects, we remain committed to a cleaner and safer environment. The expansion of the study area and the screenings we conduct at the request of some local residents' homes also show that in a historic industrial neighborhood like Hoboken, several possible sources of lead exposure may exist, such as lead water pipes and other construction work. This underscores the importance of continued and close cooperation among stakeholders to identify and jointly address all possible sources of lead. By measuring more, we will get a better picture and increases will not go unnoticed,” said Johan Ramharter, Director of Umicore's Hoboken site.
Table - results from the first year of the expanded perimeter survey.
Because the study is voluntary, the children and their numbers may vary and no accurate comparison can be made. If the same group of children participates in blood sampling multiple times, it can be determined if there is an improvement over time.
| Lead-in-blood | Autumn 2024 | Spring 2024 | Autumn 2023 |
| Participating children relative to total resident children | 258 (40.6% of 636) | 300 (43.9% of 684) | 287 (45% of 639) |
| Average | 2.34 µg/dl | 2.70 µg/dl | 3.45 µg/dl |
| Control group average | 1.65 µg/dl | 2.20 µg/dl | 1.97 µg/dl |
| % Children > 4 µg/dl | 8.2% | 14% | 22.3% |
| % Children > 2 µg/dl | 50.8% | 64.5% | 77% |
| Average Moretusburg-Hertogvelden | 2.46 µg/dl | 2.96 µg/dl | 3.85 μg/dl |
The prevention worker is in contact with families whose children have blood lead levels higher than 4µg/dl. Families whose children have elevated levels can call on Umicore to have their homes screened for possible lead sources free of charge. Among the prevention measures offered by Umicore is the dusting of homes of local residents during remodeling work.
Umicore's Hoboken site invests around 25 million euros a year in environmental improvement projects. These projects focus mainly on the ongoing reduction of windblown dust containing metal particles and the purification of ambient air from the production halls. Windblown dust is generated by logistics and production activities at the plant site where precious and other metals are recycled.
These initiatives have proven positive effects on the site's environmental performance. Recent projects such as the air purification at the precious metals concentration department and the additional gas purification at the blast furnace plant, as well as the weatherization of the site and the hundreds of meters of windbreaks contribute.
In addition, Umicore is developing a green zone of about five acres adjacent to the Moretusburg site and adjacent to one acre of green zone on the site itself. The green zone creates distance between the plant site and the residential area and is in the planting phase. Prior to that, the zone was backfilled with clean soil.
