News | RIVM

Blood spot test extended as of 1 January 2017 to include two more disorders

As of 1 January 2017, the disorders alpha and beta thalassaemia will be added to the neonatal blood spot (‘heel prick’) screening programme.

Guus Velders in Nature's "Ten people that mattered this year"

Researcher Dr Guus Velders of RIVM has made the Nature top-10 list of 2016. This means that, according to Nature, he was one of the 10 most influential scientists in 2016.

RIVM research basis for historic climate agreement on HFCs

Scientific research by RIVM’s Guus Velders stood partly at the basis of the HFC global climate agreement.

Newborn heel prick screening starts on St Eustatius and Saba

On 26 October 2015, heel prick screening started for all newborns on St Eustatius and Saba.

Without measures emissions of HFC greenhouse gases will increase rapidly

Without global agreement on the use of HFCs, their contribution to the greenhouse effect may increase sharply to 10 percent of that of CO2 by 2050. The current contribution is less than 1 percent.

HFC greenhouse gases accumulate in refrigerators and air conditioners

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are potent greenhouse gases used in refrigerators and air conditioners and are released primarily at the end of the life-span of these products.