Original Summary

Tony Jolliffe/BBC / Residents like Sam told the BBC they were shocked by their blood test results Blood tests have found "really high levels" of a cancer-causing forever chemical in dozens of people living near a major chemical factory in the UK. The residents, from Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire, have been told they could be at elevated risk of serious health conditions from the substance, known as PFOA. The village has been under investigation for years by the Environment Agency over contamination of soils and locally grown food from the substance, which is a type of forever chemical - so-called because they do not easily break down. That investigation said high levels likely came from the nearby AGC Chemicals factory, which used it to manufacture coating for frying pans until 2012. Sam and her husband, both from the village, have been told they were at increased risk of health impacts from PFOA. However, she told the BBC was more shocked by her son's result. "When we opened the results...it was like, my God, that is ridiculously off the scale. "I feel guilty because I've introduced [my children] to that way of life. 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," she said. 'It's quite emotional, a shock' Forever chemicals are a group of substances, also known as PFAS, that are resistant to water and oil and are in thousands of everyday products, such as clothing and cookwear. But because they do not break down easily they have raised health concerns. PFOA has been banned in the UK since 2020 because it was classed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a Group 1 carcinogen, which means there is clear scientific evidence it can increase the risk of cancer. The Environment Agency and Wyre Council have been testing the area close to the AGC Chemicals factory since 2024 to determine if it has been contaminated. They found PFOA at elevated levels in the soil, eggs and locally grown vegetables. Two allotment sites have now been closed and are due to be classified as contaminated land, while residents within 1km of the factory have been advised to peel any fruit or vegetables grown in their gardens. Those investigations concluded the PFOA was likely to have come from the factory having been carried in the air. Two allotments in Thornton-Cleveleys have been closed and are due to be classified as contaminated land Residents previously asked the council to test their blood for the chemical. But according to the UK Health Security Agency, PFAS monitoring is not currently recommended because "tests are unlikely to provide clear information for individuals". Instead independent tests were offered by Manchester Metropolitan University, paid for by investigative journalists Watershed and Law for Change - which funds cases covering environmental issues. Forty-nine residents volunteered, and they were told their blood test readings on Wednesday. Andrew Molloy found out he was in the highest-risk category. "I was half expecting it to be just normal," he said. "Because the investigation here has all been focused on - you're only really being at risk if you eat fruit and veg from the garden or grow your own eggs - which I don't." Andrew's home was built on land that used to be part of the factory. He underwent the tests because he was worried about persistent health problems in his family. "One of the first things I'm going to do is take [the results] to my GP and at least get it on my record. They seem to refuse to do anything related to this, but now I have hard information and data," he said. Mario Panteli, who was visibly shaken by his results, which were among the highest, said it was "quite emotional, a shock". He added: "I bought a property, assuming that this is our forever home. I'm going to have to stop my children from going in the garden, front and back. I feel constricted, like I'm in a cage now." Dr David Megson, who carried out the testing at Manchester Metropolitan University, said the results made him feel sick. "To me, it shows something seriously wrong has happened to that community in that area, that the levels were far higher than anything we would have ever expected to see in the general population." Tony Jolliffe/BBC / Andrew Molloy expected his results would be normal The UK does not have any recommendations about acceptable PFAS levels in people, although the US and Germany do. Of the 49 residents tested, 70% had readings that could leave them at increased risk of adverse health effects, according to these countries' guidelines. Possible effects include a higher risk of reduced thyroid function, kidney cancer, testicular cancer, elevated cholesterol, pre-eclampsia and ulcerative colitis. Having elevated forever chemicals in their blood is not a guarantee residents will develop these conditions, but US and German authorities have suggested anyone with elevated levels should be offered further health screening. Factory to close later this year More than 100 residents, including those who had their blood tested, are now considering taking a group legal action against AGC Chemicals to claim damages for the contamination Sarah Moore, partner at law firm Leigh Day - which is representing some residents - said compensation could be sought for financial losses on residents' homes and the impact it has had on their use and enjoyment of the land. She said damages could also be sought "in relation to the health risks, which we now consider to be a significant issue as a result of the testing we've been doing locally". The case would be "groundbreaking in the UK," she added and would be the first time a community has brought a legal claim over contamination from forever chemicals in the country. Overseas, one of the biggest legal cases over PFOA contamination was in West Virginia, in the US, which was depicted in the 2019 film Dark Waters. In that c

  • 情报分类：商业与市场研究
  • 分类依据：内容涉及商业、投资或市场动态
  • 信息来源：英语新闻 / BBC News Top Stories
  • 发布时间：2026/9/24 05:01:06