A chemical plant in the Dutch city of Vlissingen (Flushing) is belching out vast quantities of dioxins, cadmium and zinc over the heads of the local population.

The Netherlands' Health Inspectorate has said it repeatedly asked the government of Zeeland province to close down the Thermphos factory, but these requests appeared to have been ignored. Meanwhile local residents are reporting respiratory problems, headaches and dizziness. Prolonged exposure to dioxins can lead to a wide range of complaints, including cancer, damage to the central nervous system, thyroid disorders and diabetes.

Romania
Environment professor, Dr Lucas Reijnders read the Inspectorate's 2009 report about the phosphorus producer and told public broadcaster NOS, "I thought it was about a factory in Romania. Its safety culture is disconcertingly bad, which is fortunately very rare in the Netherlands". According to the government inspectors, the situation at the plant is "serious and cause for concern". If Thermphos does not quickly mend its ways, the production facility should be closed, according to the government's Inspectorate. It is threatening to take legal steps if the Zeeland provincial government fails to act.

Jobs
The ultimate responsibility for sanctions against Thermphos lies with Zeeland's Royal Commissioner, Karla Peijs. She told NOS TV that "Thermphos is very important for our province", referring to its role as an employer. Thermphos employs 1200 people. Ms Peijs said the company has been given until 2015 to improve its standards to the desired level. Until then, the 0.1 nanogram threshold for dioxin would be waived by the Zeeland government, allowing Thermphos to eject up to 0.4 nanograms of the poisonous compound - four times the amount that is considered safe.

The factory's director, Rob de Ruiter, responded that it's unlikely he will meet the demands anytime soon. "Other companies were given much longer to adapt. This is the only phosphor plant around, there is no standard solution we can rely on. Solving the problem will take some time."

Deaths
The Thermphos company is already under investigation for the death of two employees. They were killed during maintenance work in May 2009, possibly because they were suffocated by escaping nitrogen gas. The public prosecutor is also looking into allegations that Thermphos illegally dumped polluted waste into the Schelde river. Accusations emanating from Israel that the company has been bought by a Russian arms dealer have so far not been confirmed.