UK blood tests find high PFOA chemical near factory
Blood tests in Thornton-Cleveleys reveal dangerously high levels of cancer-causing PFOA forever chemicals linked to AGC Chemicals plant contamination.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- 49 residents tested positive for very high levels of PFOA chemicals
- Contamination originates near the AGC Chemicals plant in Lancashire
- WHO classifies PFOA as a Group 1 cancer-causing substance
- Locals are considering landmark group legal action for damages
Blood tests conducted in the United Kingdom have uncovered alarming concentrations of a cancer-causing forever chemical among dozens of individuals residing near a major chemical plant. Residents in the village of Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire, have been warned they face an elevated risk of serious health complications stemming from exposure to PFOA substances.
The village has faced multi-year investigations by the Environment Agency over soil and locally grown food contamination involving these persistent chemicals, named forever chemicals because they resist natural breakdown. Investigators concluded that the high levels likely originated from the nearby AGC Chemicals factory, which utilized the substance to manufacture non-stick coatings for frying pans until 2012.
Sam, a local resident, and her husband were informed they faced increased health risks from PFOA, though she expressed greater shock over her son's exceptionally high test results. PFOA has been banned across the UK since 2020 after the World Health Organization categorized it as a Group 1 carcinogen backed by clear scientific evidence linking it to heightened cancer risks.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The Environment Agency and Wyre Council initiated local testing in 2024 around the AGC Chemicals facility, detecting elevated PFOA concentrations in soil, eggs, and home-grown vegetables. Consequently, two allotment sites have been shut down for classification as contaminated land, while residents within a one-kilometer radius are advised to peel home-grown produce before consumption.
While the UK Health Security Agency does not currently recommend routine PFAS blood monitoring for individuals, independent tests were funded by investigative journalists through Watershed and Law for Change, and carried out by Manchester Metropolitan University. Forty-9 volunteers participated, including Andrew Molloy, whose home was built on former factory land and who discovered he fell into the highest-risk category.
"When we opened the results...it was like, my God, that is ridiculously off the scale."
Sam
Forever chemicals, or PFAS, present severe environmental challenges due to exceptionally robust carbon-fluorine bonds that allow them to persist indefinitely in ecosystems and human tissue. This situation mirrors historical contamination cases in the United States involving DuPont, made famous by the film Dark Waters, marking a pioneering environmental litigation effort for the UK community.
Although the UK lacks official benchmarks for acceptable human PFAS levels, application of US and German guidelines revealed that 70 percent of the 49 tested individuals harbored readings capable of triggering adverse health impacts, including reduced thyroid function, kidney cancer, testicular cancer, and elevated cholesterol. Over 100 residents are now weighing group legal action against AGC Chemicals to secure compensation.
Source: BBC Science & Environment
Found something wrong in this article? Report an issue with this article
Comments
Leave a Comment