PFOA blood tests have revealed unusually high levels of the cancer-causing forever chemical among dozens of people living near a major chemical factory in Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire.
Forty-nine residents volunteered for independent testing after years of concerns about PFOA contamination around the AGC Chemicals factory. Results given to residents on Wednesday showed that 70% had readings which, under guidelines used in the United States and Germany, could indicate an increased risk of adverse health effects.
PFOA blood tests reveal elevated chemical exposure
The findings follow an Environment Agency investigation into PFOA contamination of soil and locally grown food around Thornton-Cleveleys. Testing carried out by the Environment Agency and Wyre Council since 2024 found elevated levels of the chemical in soil, eggs and vegetables grown locally.
Two allotment sites have been closed and are due to be classified as contaminated land. Residents living within 1km of the factory have also been advised to peel fruit and vegetables grown in their gardens.
The investigation concluded that PFOA was likely released from the factory and carried through the air. AGC Chemicals used PFOA in its manufacturing processes until 2012, when it switched to a replacement chemical known as EEA-NH4.
PFOA is part of a wider group of substances known as PFAS, commonly called forever chemicals because they are highly resistant to breaking down. These substances are resistant to water and oil and have been used in thousands of everyday products, including clothing and cookware.
PFOA has been banned in the UK since 2020 after being classified by the World Health Organization as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning there is clear scientific evidence that it can increase the risk of cancer.
Residents describe shock over PFOA contamination
Sam Hammond and her husband, who live in the village, were told they could face increased health risks associated with PFOA. However, she said her son’s result was particularly distressing.
“When we opened the results…it was like, my God, that is ridiculously off the scale,” she told the BBC. She also described feeling guilty about exposing her children to the environment, despite acknowledging that the situation was not her fault.
Andrew Molloy was among those whose results placed them in the highest-risk category under the overseas guidelines. He said he had expected his reading to be normal because he did not grow food or keep chickens for eggs.
Molloy’s home was built on land that was previously part of the factory site. He said he planned to take his results to his GP so the information could be added to his medical record.
Mario Panteli, whose result was also among the highest, described the experience as “quite emotional, a shock”. He said concerns about contamination had changed how he viewed his home and garden.
Dr David Megson of Manchester Metropolitan University, who carried out the testing, said the results were deeply concerning. He said the levels were considerably higher than those expected in the general population.
Health risks and possible legal action, PFOA blood tests
The UK currently has no recommended acceptable PFAS levels in people’s blood. However, the United States and Germany have guidelines that were used to assess the results of the Thornton-Cleveleys residents.
Potential health effects associated with elevated exposure include reduced thyroid function, kidney cancer, testicular cancer, high cholesterol, pre-eclampsia and ulcerative colitis. Elevated PFOA levels do not mean that a person will necessarily develop any of these conditions.
The UK Health Security Agency has previously said routine PFAS monitoring is not recommended because tests are unlikely to provide clear information for individuals. The independent testing was instead arranged through Manchester Metropolitan University and funded by investigative journalists Watershed and Law for Change.
More than 100 residents are now considering group legal action against AGC Chemicals. Leigh Day solicitor Sarah Moore said potential compensation claims could cover financial losses involving properties, the use and enjoyment of land, and health risks associated with the contamination.
If pursued, the case could become the first UK community legal claim concerning contamination involving forever chemicals, according to Moore.
AGC Chemicals factory set to close, PFOA blood tests
The Thornton-Cleveleys factory began operating in the 1950s, when ICI manufactured coatings for non-stick frying pans using PFOA. AGC Chemicals took over the site in 1999 and continued using the chemical until 2012.
AGC Chemicals said the site had manufactured chemicals before the company was established. The company added that the wider multi-agency investigation remains ongoing and that no formal determination of land contamination has been made.
Earlier this month, AGC Chemicals announced that the factory would close later this year, saying there was no “viable solution to keep the site operating in the context of a volatile and competitive market”.