‘Are these chemicals in my blood?’: How one community learned the truth about Pfas pollution
Summary
A community near a chemical factory in Thornton-Cleveleys found dangerous levels of Pfas "forever chemicals" in their environment and bodies. Blood tests on 49 local people showed that 70% had Pfas levels above the U.S. safety limit, raising health concerns after decades of exposure.Key Facts
- Pfas are man-made chemicals that do not break down easily and can stay in the environment for a long time.
- Pfoa, a type of Pfas and a known cancer-causing chemical, was emitted by AGC Chemicals factory until 2012.
- One duck egg from Sam Hammond’s garden had Pfas levels 10 times higher than Europe’s safety limit.
- Sam and her children have eaten these contaminated eggs daily for years.
- Blood tests showed 70% of people tested around the factory had Pfas levels above 20 ng/ml, considered risky by U.S. standards.
- Sam’s blood had 25 ng/ml Pfas, and her son’s blood had 111 ng/ml, both above safe levels.
- Pfoa exposure is linked to serious illnesses including kidney cancer; some areas near the factory reported higher rates of kidney cancer.
- A government study found no clear cancer clusters, but experts called for more research due to conflicting data.
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