Home / Environment / Chemical Fears Grip Former RAF Base
Chemical Fears Grip Former RAF Base
5 May
Summary
- Residents fear PFAS contamination near former RAF Upper Heyford.
- PFAS chemicals, including banned PFOA and PFOS, found in nearby stream.
- Community meets scientists seeking answers on potential exposure risks.
Concerns over potential chemical pollution have arisen among residents living near the former RAF Upper Heyford base in Oxfordshire. This site, previously used by British and US forces, is undergoing redevelopment, with proposals for an additional 9,000 homes.
Residents fear the land may be contaminated with PFAS, known as "forever chemicals." This concern was amplified in April when a petition cited Environment Agency data showing high PFAS levels in a brook over 2.5 miles downstream. Two specific compounds, PFOA and PFOS, used in firefighting foams and now banned in the UK due to potential carcinogenic risks, have been detected in Gallos Brook, which originates from an aquifer within the base.
Scientists from Oxford Brookes and Manchester Metropolitan University met with concerned villagers. Residents expressed anxieties about past exposure and potential health impacts, with some noting proximity to the stream and their use of allotments. While site owners Dorchester Living state extensive environmental investigations have occurred, they acknowledge PFAS as a potential risk and note that nearby contamination could originate from other sources.
The study of PFAS is evolving, with the World Health Organization classifying PFOA as carcinogenic and PFOS as possibly carcinogenic. In response to growing concerns, the UK government launched a PFAS plan in February to increase environmental testing. The House of Commons environmental audit committee has also recommended a ban on these chemicals, a move the government is considering.
