Almost seven in 10 of a sample of 49 villagers in Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire, have perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in their blood, according to tests published yesterday. One local had more than 400ng/ml of PFOA in their blood – the highest level of synthetic chemicals in their blood ever recorded in the UK.
Hundreds of homes are within a half-mile radius of an AGC Chemicals Europe factory, which pumped PFOA into the air for decades. The factory used synthetic chemicals to coat frying pans to make them non-stick until 2012.
Health risks and local impact
‘Forever chemicals’ can cause increased risk of, among other issues, kidney cancer, testicular cancer and ulcerative colitis, a bowel disease. Villager Sam Hammond told the BBC that her son’s test results, arranged by the law firm Leigh Day, were ‘off the scale’.
‘I feel guilty because I’ve introduced [my children] to that way of life,’ she said. ‘I know it isn’t my fault, but the guilt is horrific. Knowing that I’ve offloaded what levels I probably had over the years into those children when I breastfed them – that’s heartbreaking.’
Council and government officials have been testing the soil of the area near the Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone since 2024. The local council has warned residents against eating locally produced fruit, vegetables and eggs. Two allotments have already been closed as part of the ongoing investigation as they are considered contaminated land.
What are 'forever chemicals'?
‘Forever chemicals’ are used in everyday items, from microwave popcorn bags and shampoo to floss and fire extinguisher foam. There are two main types: per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFOA and PFAS, respectively. The way their carbon and fluorine atoms bond makes them resistant to heat and water, allowing these almost indestructible chemicals to last for centuries.
But these traits, which make them useful in products, also make them harmful to human health. ‘They don’t break down easily and will exist in the environment for generations, meaning that every emission adds to more pollution in the environment and increases the background level of exposure experienced by both people and wildlife,’ Dr Anna Watson, the director of policy and advocacy at the charity CHEM Trust, told Metro.
‘They are now found throughout the UK, in our drinking water and in our bodies, and the more we learn about the harmful properties of PFAS, the more concerned we become.’
Many of the risks of these chemicals piling up in people’s bodies are unclear, with one study suggesting that chemical bosses downplayed the risks for decades. PFOA has since been banned as it has been classed as a carcinogen, an agent that promotes the development of cancer.
Test results and wider concerns
Investigative journalism outlet Watershed Investigations paid for locals to have blood tests offered by Manchester Metropolitan University. Of the 49 people tested, the overall average of ‘forever chemicals’ swirling in their blood was 26 ng/ml. Those who lived within 1km of the factory had higher-than-average PFOA levels, while 75% who ate locally-grown fruit and veg were high-risk. None of the participants returned results in the low-risk category of below two ng/ml, Leigh Day said.
Rowan Stanforth, a project officer at the anti-pollution charity, Fidra, told Metro that Thornton-Cleveleys locals aren’t alone. What the village is experiencing is ‘devastating’, he said, with the area among the 10,000 ‘high risk’ PFAS contamination sites identified by the Environment Agency in a report last year.
Bloodletting was recommended to people in Jersey last year after drinking water supplies were polluted by firefighting foams containing PFAS. ‘We are all exposed to “forever chemicals” every single day, and every day of inaction locks in pollution that will impact future generations,’ Stanforth added. ‘But it’s not too late to act.’
Dr Watson added that Thornton-Cleveleys residents ‘are now living with the fear of what this contamination could mean for their health and their children’s futures’. ‘This community deserves real accountability and answers from both the company responsible and the government,’ she said. ‘The polluter must pay for the harm they have done, and the government must provide continued support to the community through health monitoring and advice.’
AGC Chemicals Europe told Metro that it is ‘aware’ of the blood test results and the concerns locals have raised. ‘The Hillhouse site and surrounding area has been dedicated to industrial chemical manufacturing for well over a century – long before AGC Chemicals Europe, Ltd was established – and a wide variety of historical users have operated on the site,’ the manufacturer said. It added that officials are still investigating the land and it has not been classified as contaminated under the Environmental Protection Act. ‘We cannot speculate on future outcomes or next steps,’ AGC Chemicals Europe said.
The government launched a plan earlier this year to examine the impact PFAS has on people’s health and the environment. Lancashire County Council, which is leading the investigation into Thornton-Cleveleys, has been approached for comment. The Environment Agency and the UK Health Security Agency were unable to comment.
