Home / Environment / Bentham Blood: Toxic 'Forever Chemicals' Found
Bentham Blood: Toxic 'Forever Chemicals' Found
20 Mar
Summary
- Nearly a quarter of Bentham residents tested had high Pfas blood levels.
- Highest recorded Pfas level in Bentham was 405 ng/ml, far exceeding US risk.
- Airborne emissions from firefighting foam testing suspected community exposure.
Toxic 'forever chemicals', known as Pfas, have been detected at alarming levels in the blood of residents in Bentham, North Yorkshire. This follows a previous investigation that identified the town as having the UK's highest recorded Pfas contamination in groundwater. New blood testing, conducted for an upcoming documentary, revealed that nearly a quarter of 39 individuals tested had Pfas blood levels falling into the highest risk category.
One former factory worker's blood showed a Pfas level of 405 ng/ml, more than 200 times the US risk benchmark of 2 ng/ml. Even those not employed at the Angus Fire factory, which produced Pfas-containing firefighting foam, exhibited elevated levels, suggesting community-wide exposure. Experts suspect airborne emissions from foam testing at the factory may be a significant contributor, potentially contaminating local produce and settled dust.
While there are no official UK guidelines for safe Pfas blood levels, US recommendations indicate increased health risks above 20 ng/ml. Some residents with high levels have reported reproductive health issues, with Pfas linked to lower sperm count. The company responsible for the factory stated that interpretations of blood tests are complex and that historical operations are not the sole source of contamination.
