Home / Environment / Forever Chemicals Found in Yorkshire Town Blood
Forever Chemicals Found in Yorkshire Town Blood
20 Mar
Summary
- High levels of 'forever chemicals' found in Yorkshire town residents' blood.
- One former worker's blood showed PFAS levels over 200 times risk threshold.
- Children's elevated PFAS levels cause concern for parents moving away.
A recent ITV documentary revealed concerningly high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as 'forever chemicals,' in the blood of residents in Bentham, North Yorkshire. These chemicals, linked to serious illnesses including cancer, are found in high concentrations due to decades of firefighting foam manufacturing and testing by Angus Fire, the town's main employer. Previous groundwater tests on the Angus Fire site had already indicated the highest PFAS concentrations recorded in the UK.
Blood tests offered to residents living within a kilometer of the factory or employed there showed "shocking" results. Of the 39 participants, nine exceeded the 20 ng/ml adverse health effect threshold, with one former worker registering 405 ng/ml. Experts noted that nearly all tested individuals had above-average exposure, with a third showing levels unexpectedly high for the general population. Angus Fire stated that there is no universally accepted way to interpret such blood test results and that classifying the data as 'unusually high' is unfounded in the UK context.
Despite the company's response, some residents with existing health conditions question a potential link to PFAS contamination. Rachel Harrison, whose young children had significantly higher PFAS levels than herself, expressed her decision to move out of Bentham. Stephen Illston, who has lived in Bentham his entire life and exhibits elevated PFAS levels (55 ng/ml), believes this may explain his long-standing fertility issues. In response to growing concerns, Angus Fire has initiated remediation work, including a stormwater treatment system, and states its operations have always adhered to UK regulatory guidelines.
The broader issue of PFAS contamination is a growing concern across the UK, with an estimated 10,000 contaminated hotspots. The UK government, through its PFAS Plan, is committed to understanding and tackling the sources of these chemicals, supporting transitions to safer alternatives, and reducing public exposure through collaboration with businesses, regulators, and communities.
