From activism to journalism, Belgian whistleblower on eternal pollutants continues the fight

On this sunny mid-July afternoon, Thomas Goorden swaps his linen shirt for a gold work jacket. On the agenda: renovating the Ardennes barn acquired by his cousin Pieter in 2019. For the first time in years, the former Belgian activist, who exposed one of Europe's biggest PFAS pollution scandals, synthetic chemicals that persist almost indefinitely in the environment, is allowing himself the right to get some fresh air. Ironically, his cousin's barn is located just a few kilometers from the sixteen municipalities—twelve in the Ardennes and four in the Meuse—that are subject to a ban on tap water consumption due to a concentration of these so-called eternal pollutants, which are carcinogenic to humans and animals.

Having become a freelance journalist since October 2024, Thomas Goorden leaves behind nearly ten years of activism. Originally from Antwerp (Belgium), the 47-year-old began by poring over his hometown's administrative publications to influence local politics, before becoming involved in the Antwerp citizens' movement stRaten-Generaal, which advocates for a more participatory democracy. But it wasn't until 2021 that his name became known outside the borders of Flanders' largest municipality.

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