A groundbreaking environmental case has been filed in the Netherlands against chemical giant 3M, brought on behalf of a Dutch fisherman’s association whose members have been severely impacted by PFAS contamination in the Scheldt River. The case, which marks one of the first major environmental lawsuits in Europe targeting PFAS pollution, seeks to hold 3M accountable for the damage caused to marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of fishing communities that depend on them.
For decades, 3M has manufactured and discharged PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances), at its facility in Zwijndrecht, just across the border in Belgium. These “forever chemicals” are known for their resistance to breakdown in the environment and have been linked to serious health risks, including cancer, immune system disorders, and reproductive issues. In recent years, significant PFAS levels have been detected in the Scheldt River, which flows from Belgium into the Netherlands and supports a vital commercial and cultural fishing industry.
The contamination has rendered the river’s fish and shrimp unsafe for human consumption, according to regional health and environmental authorities. As a result, the Dutch fishermen represented in this case can no longer sell their catch. Many have been forced to suspend operations, resulting in devastating economic losses. Generations of fishing heritage, built around the river’s rich biodiversity, now face collapse due to industrial pollution.
The Dutch attorneys of Milberg Amsterdam are representing the fishermen in this case. They work in close coordination with the U.S.-based firm Napoli Shkolnik, whose deep expertise in environmental litigation plays a key role in shaping the legal strategy. The legal team asserts that 3M failed to adequately warn the public or take measures to limit the release of hazardous PFAS compounds—even after the risks became known. The lawsuit seeks compensation for lost income and damages, as well as accountability for the continuing environmental harm that threatens the long-term viability of the river and the communities that depend on it. Over the past years, multiple tests have been conducted to assess PFAS contamination levels in the Western Scheldt estuary. The Dutch Fishermen’s Association (NVB), in collaboration with toxicologist Professor Jacob de Boer, commissioned independent sampling and analysis of various fish and shellfish species from the area. In addition, both Dutch and Belgian governmental authorities have carried out their own studies, including periodic measurements of PFAS concentrations in surface water, sediment, and aquatic species such as shrimp and sole. These efforts have confirmed persistently elevated levels of PFOS in parts of the estuary, raising serious concerns about food safety and the impact on commercial fishing activities. Most recently, Belgian authorities released new data suggesting that contamination may extend further westward than previously assumed, prompting discussions about expanding the existing fishing restrictions.
This litigation is not only about financial recovery, it is also about justice and environmental accountability. These fishermen are not multinational corporations or large municipalities. They are small, local operators who depend entirely on the health of the Scheldt River for their livelihood. Their situation underscores the urgent need for stricter regulation, corporate responsibility, and stronger environmental protections at both national and international levels.
We believe this case will set a critical precedent in European environmental law. It sends a clear message: polluters must pay for the harm they case, not just to ecosystems, but to the people and communities whose lives are intertwined with those natural resources.
Justice for the Scheldt River is justice for the fishermen, and for the future of environmental protection in Europe.
Partner, Napoli Shkolnik
Coral Odiot-Rivera is an experienced environmental and mass tort litigator who leads high-impact litigation on behalf of individuals and communities exposed to PFAS, lead, microplastics, and other hazardous substances affecting air, soil, and water. She plays a pivotal role in the landmark Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) multi-district litigation, which has resulted in multi-billion-dollar settlements with corporate polluters including 3M, DuPont, Tyco, and BASF. Ms. Odiot-Rivera also helped file one of the first PFAS lawsuits in Europe, representing the Dutch Fishermen’s Association in a groundbreaking litigation against 3M for contamination of the Scheldt River.