The Dutch State will hold chemical concern 3M liable for damage caused by PFAS, often referred to as “forever chemicals” which do not break down in the environment. The American company has a factory on the Scheldt River in Belgium which has been discharging PFAS into the water for years. This has led to damage in the Netherlands at the Westerschelde, an estuary of the Scheldt River, the Cabinet said.

Previously, the Dutch public health institute, RIVM, issued a warning advising people not to eat fish, shellfish, and crustaceans from the Westerschelde because of the high concentrations of PFAS chemicals found there. PFAS is short for “poly and perfluoroalkyl substances,” a collection of man-made chemicals used in a wide range of products, including non-stick cookware, automobile fuel lines, semiconductors, batteries, and water-resistant clothing, 3M said in the past.

Exposure to PFAS beyond a certain level can increase the risks of developing high cholesterol, cancer, and liver damage. It can also impair the immune systems of children. Eating a portion of shrimp from the Westerschelde more than five times per year can lead to over exposure, the RIVM said last year.