Don't let children play in sea foam (PFAS)
Dutch officials warn against children playing in sea foam due to toxic PFAS, yet no public alerts are issued at beaches. RIVM advises rinsing after visits and avoiding consumption of local seafood.
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Government officials in the Netherlands have intensified warnings against allowing children to play in sea foam due to the presence of toxic PFAS, or "forever chemicals." Despite these warnings, there has been no initiative from national, regional, or local authorities to inform beachgoers at popular resorts. The public health institute RIVM previously reported significant levels of PFAS in sea foam, advising thorough rinsing after beach visits and cautioning against ingestion by children and pets. In July, the official guidance on the website zwemwater.nl was updated to recommend avoiding sea foam entirely. This warning has been in effect in Belgium for 18 months. Although officials considered posting warnings at beaches, they ultimately decided against it, citing a lack of immediate danger and the belief that visitors often ignore such signs. Economic concerns regarding tourism were denied as a factor in this decision. The RIVM has also cautioned against consuming fish and shellfish from the Westerschelde estuary due to high PFAS levels, which can be significantly greater than those found in commercially sold seafood. The presence of PFAS in sea foam is attributed to pollution and the breakdown of sea algae, leading to higher concentrations than in seawater.
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