Hazardous GenX in The Hague, Zoetermeer, Leiden tap water

Traces of the potentially carcinogenic substance GenX were found in the tap water of The Hague, Zoetermeer and Leiden, water company Dunea announced on Tuesday. The company stresses that the concentrations are very low and that the drinking water is still safe, AD reports.

This involves water coming from drinking water sites Scheveningen, Monster and Katwijk. "In these places 4.3 and 5.8 nano-grams per liter were measured", Dunea said. The company will investigate where the GenX came from. Dunea emphasizes that this involves very small amounts of the controversial substance. "These values are 30 times lower than the government's guide value as the safety limit for these substances in drinking water."

Earlier this year it was revealed that GenX from Dordrecht chemical company Chemours was found in the tap water from Alblasserdam and Ridderkerk, managed by water company Oasen. An investigation by newspaper AD revealed that the substance was also in tap water in Rotterdam, Dordrecht Spijkenisse, Gouda and Goedereede.

Public health institute RIVM recently established guide values for GenX. The RIVM researchers concluded that GenX components FRD 902 and FRD 903 must be classified as potentially carcinogenic to humans. 

Last month experts warned in the Volkskrant that eating plants grown around the Chemours factory in Dordrecht could be dangerous due to high concentrations of GenX on their leaves.