Study finds 'forever chemical' in blood of most residents near former UK factory

A study of residents living near a UK industrial site has found elevated blood levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a synthetic chemical linked to cancer and other health problems, in close to 70% of those tested.

PFOA belongs to a family of substances known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, often referred to as 'forever chemicals' because they break down extremely slowly in the environment and in the human body. The chemical was used at the factory in question until 2012, according to reporting on the findings, after which its use was phased out amid growing regulatory concern.

Researchers who conducted the blood testing say the results point to long-term environmental exposure among people living close to the plant, raising questions about historical contamination of soil, water or air in the surrounding area. Health authorities have previously linked prolonged PFOA exposure to increased risks of certain cancers, thyroid disease and other conditions, prompting many countries to tighten restrictions on the chemical's use in recent years.

The findings add to a growing body of evidence documenting PFAS contamination near industrial sites across Europe and beyond, as monitoring and testing methods have improved. Residents and campaigners in affected communities have increasingly called for expanded health screening, compensation and stricter cleanup requirements from both regulators and the companies responsible for the pollution.

It remains unclear what remediation steps, if any, have been taken at the site since PFOA use ended there, or whether local authorities plan further testing of residents or the surrounding environment. The case is likely to add pressure on UK regulators to strengthen oversight of legacy industrial contamination linked to forever chemicals.