News | RIVM

The 2020 Nitrate Report: nitrate levels in the water on farms on the rise again since 2017

More nitrogen and phosphorus have been ending up in the soil on farms since 2015. As a result, nitrate concentrations have been rising since 2017 in leachates and ditch water from those farms.

Improvement of air quality continues

In 2019, the calculated concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10) were below the European limit values in almost the whole of the Netherlands. Locally, the limit value for nitrogen dioxide is still being exceeded.

Spread of tick-borne encephalitis virus in the Netherlands

Every year about 1.5 million ticks bite someone in the Netherlands, especially between March and October. Most people will not get sick of that.

Interim injunction decision Nitrogen

In an interim injunction proceeding between Mesdag Zuivelfonds, Stichting Stikstofclaim and RIVM, the court has ruled that RIVM must decide on the availability and disclosure of data before 1 Janua

Exploratory RIVM calculations of nitrogen measures

The Dutch government announced its plans for the first steps in tackling the nitrogen deposition issue.

landschap met lanbouwgrond en bebouwing op de achtergrond

Openness about nitrogen

There is concern about the current approach to nitrogen and the proposed measures; these concerns have been expressed in Dutch society as a whole and amongst farmers in particular.

New test has no added value in Lyme disease of the central nervous system

Active Lyme disease of the central nervous system cannot be detected with an ELISpot test.

European critical loads: database, biodiversity and ecosystems at risk

Approximately 79 percent of the nature reserves (Natura 2000 areas) in EU countries are estimated to be exposed to an excess of nitrogen deposition in 2020.

Lyme disease costs EUR 20 million annually

The societal costs of Lyme disease have been determined for the Netherlands for the first time. The disease appears to cost nearly EUR 20 million each year.

Lab tests alone not conclusive for diagnosis of Lyme disease

Lyme disease can cause a variety of complaints in patients. Laboratory tests for the disease can support medical practitioners in making a diagnosis but are not necessarily conclusive.