Some toxic paint victims to get payouts: Defence dept.

Some of the former employees of Defense who worked with the carcinogenic chromium paint CARC will receive financial compensation.

Minister Jeanine Hennis Plasschaert (Defense) said this during the parliamentary debate on tox substances at Defense. This involves a small group of sick former employees of which it is plausible that their illness is related to working with CARC. The compensation does not mean that Defense admits liability.

Nearly 900 Defense employees and former employees who worked on bases where the paint was used in the 80's and 90's, have reported. A quarter of them have health problems that may be related to the chrome paint.

The GGD and National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) are investigating all health problems as well as all Defense locations where the chrome paint was used. The results may take up to two years. A majority of the Second Chamber feels that this is too long.

One former employee of Twente airbase has already received compensation because he worked with camouflage paint which contained the carcinogen chromium-6. The department has admitted liability in another five cases. These cases happened between 1999 and 2011.