Dozens of residents living near a major chemical facility in Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire, have been found to have significantly elevated levels of PFOA, a carcinogenic “forever chemical,” in their blood. The findings have raised concerns about long-term health risks for the community.
PFOA belongs to a class of substances known as PFAS, which resist breaking down in the environment. The substance was banned in the UK in 2020 after the World Health Organisation classified it as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning there is clear evidence it can increase cancer risk.
The Environment Agency has investigated the area for years due to soil and food contamination linked to the nearby AGC Chemicals factory. The facility used PFOA to manufacture non-stick pan coatings until 2012. Investigations concluded that high levels of the chemical likely entered the environment through airborne emissions from the site.
Two local allotment sites have been closed and are set to be designated as contaminated land. Residents within one kilometer of the factory have been advised to peel home-grown produce. Despite this, independent blood testing conducted by Manchester Metropolitan University, funded by investigative journalists, showed that 70% of the 49 volunteers had PFOA levels considered high under guidelines from the US and Germany.
Sam, a resident who requested anonymity, described her shock at her son’s results. “When we opened the results… it was like, my God, that is ridiculously off the scale,” she said. She expressed guilt over potentially passing the chemical to her children through breastfeeding, stating, “I feel guilty because I’ve introduced [my children] to that way of life.”
Andrew Molloy, whose home sits on former factory land, discovered he was in the highest-risk category. “I was half expecting it to be just normal,” he admitted. He plans to share his results with his GP to ensure the data is part of his medical record.
Mario Panteli, also tested among the highest, described the experience as an emotional shock. “I bought a property, assuming that this is our forever home,” he said. “I’m going to have to stop my children from going in the garden… I feel constricted, like I’m in a cage now.”
Dr. David Megson, who performed the testing, said the results indicated “something seriously wrong has happened to that community.”
While elevated PFOA does not guarantee illness, it is associated with increased risks of thyroid issues, kidney and testicular cancer, high cholesterol, pre-eclampsia, and ulcerative colitis. The UK currently lacks official recommendations for acceptable PFAS levels in human blood, unlike the US and Germany.
More than 100 residents, including those tested, are considering group legal action against AGC Chemicals. Sarah Moore of Leigh Day law firm stated that compensation could cover financial losses on property and health risks. She described the case as potentially groundbreaking in the UK, noting it would be the first community legal claim over forever chemical contamination.
AGC Chemicals announced earlier this month that the factory will close later this year due to market volatility. A spokesperson noted that the site operated long before the company’s establishment and that no formal determination of contamination has been made.
Experts suggest PFOA levels may have been higher in the past, given the chemical degrades slowly. Dr. Steve Hajioff, a public health specialist, noted that while relative risks for rare cancers may rise, the absolute chance for any individual remains low. However, lawyers warn the situation may be the “tip of the iceberg,” with calls for broader community testing and updated government guidance.
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