In 2023, Umicore investigated the extent to which young people aged 14 to 16 living in the vicinity of Umicore Hoboken were exposed to lead, cadmium and arsenic. We also investigated exposure to carbon or soot from vehicle traffic.
The human biomonitoring study involved 200 young people and the results were compared with a Flemish reference group of 428 young people from a 2017-2018 study. The test values from that earlier study were also used in this instance.
Umicore was the requesting party and co-financier, of the study, which sought to gain a thorough understanding of the possible consequences of industrial and other activities in the area, including exposure to metals.
This also included a request to expand the geographic reach of the semi-annual blood lead levels value study, which took place at the end of 2023.
Umicore considers the study to be a valuable source of information for analyzing environmental measurements in a more targeted way. The results can also be used to adjust improvement measures or apply new ones. The results show that there is not a clear causal link between exposure to metals among young people and only the activities of the site. This is evidenced, among other things, by the largely favorable environmental results and the exposure values for lead, cadmium and arsenic.
The blood lead values are on average higher than in the reference group in Flanders, but decrease as the distance to the factory increases. This is comparable to the semi-annual tests of children who live in the vicinity of the site. Cadmium values are lower compared to the reference group. For a certain form of arsenic, the value is higher.
The table below shows the average values for the human biomonitoring study for Hoboken and the Flemish reference group, the test values, as well as the comparison between the two groups separate from the test values. The test values are not related to the standards set by the Flemish government for the semi-annual measurements of blood lead levels in children aged 1 to 12 years old living near the site.
How to interpret the last column: 22% or 44 participants in the human biomonitoring study in Hoboken have a blood lead value higher than the test value of 1.2 μg/dl (or almost 80% have a value below the test value). 12% or 51 participants in the Flemish reference group have a value above the test value of 1.2 μg/dl (or almost 90% have a value below the test value). The data from the Flemish reference group are based on measurements in all 428 participants. However, the number can vary, just like with the human biomonitoring in Hoboken group of 200 young people.
| Metals | HBM Hoboken | Flemish reference group | Assessment value | HBM vs reference group |
| Average values | Average values | Applicable to individual values, not to averages | Percentage and number of participants with values above the assessment value | |
| Lead (Pb) in blood | 0.86 μg/dL | 0.77 μg/dL | 1.2 μg/dL | 22% (44) vs 12% (51) |
| Arsenic (As) in urine | ||||
| DMA | 4.47 μg/l | 3.59 μg/l | Not available | Not available |
| MMA | 0.76 μg/l | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Axis III | 0.46 μg/l | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| TRA | 6.44 μg/l | 5.11 μg/l | 6.4 μg/l | 33% (64) vs 26% (111) |
| Cadmium (Cd) in | ||||
| Blood | 0.15 μg/l | 0.19 μg/l | 1.7 μg/l | 0% (0) vs 0% (0) |
| Urine | 0.28 μg/l | 0.30 μg/l | 0.5 μg/l | 34% (66) vs 40% (171) |
The environmental results show that the annual mean concentrations for lead and cadmium were below the EU and WHO values at all sites. Arsenic was above the EU target value at the two monitoring posts close to the site on Curie Street. This street will be included in the green zone next to the site.
Additionally, factors ranging from diet to smoking, from lead-based paint to old lead water pipes, play a role. The area has a 130-year history of industrial activity along the Scheldt, where a variety of operations take place. The city of Antwerp has also taken measures to reduce blowing dust, for example during road work and construction at surrounding companies.
Together with the semi-annual blood-lead test, the human biomonitoring study helps us better understand how environmental exposure in the region, including Umicore's operations, affects health locally. We remain committed to environmental improvement and working closely with governments and other stakeholders to ensure a healthy living environment.
The study was commissioned and funded by the Department of Care and the Environment Department of the Flemish government, the City of Antwerp, the Province of Antwerp and Umicore. The research was carried out by the Provincial Institute for Hygiene (PIH), the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Hasselt University (UHasselt) and the University of Antwerp (UA).