Home / Environment / Ducks' Eggs Contaminated: Cancer Chemical Found Near Lancashire Plant
Ducks' Eggs Contaminated: Cancer Chemical Found Near Lancashire Plant
21 Feb
Summary
- Elevated levels of forever chemicals found in local ducks' eggs.
- Consuming one egg weekly exceeds safe limits for a cancer-causing substance.
- Residents advised to avoid locally produced eggs due to contamination concerns.
A chemical plant in Lancashire has been linked to contamination concerns, with elevated levels of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), a substance referred to as a "forever chemical," found in domestic ducks' eggs. Scientists sampled eggs from poultry keepers within 0.6 miles of the former ICI site in Thornton-Cleveleys, discovering levels so high that eating just one egg per week would exceed the safe limit.
Residents, like Sam Hammond, expressed shock and worry, with one neighbor stating she now "can't sleep" and feels she has trapped her children in a "toxic town." This situation is an extension of concerns raised in 2024 when residents were advised not to eat locally grown fruits and vegetables due to PFOA levels in the soil. PFOA was utilized at the site between the 1950s and 2012.
Wyre Council acknowledged residents' concerns and stated a multi-agency investigation is underway, led by the authority and the Environment Agency. The council expects to share further advice as soon as it is available and plans to host community drop-in events in early March. AGC Chemicals Europe, the current operator of part of the former plant, confirmed they stopped using PFOA in 2012 and stated that 40 years of monitoring indicated no significant impact from emissions.
