Call for government help over 'forever chemicals' site

A council leader has called for government intervention over contamination by the toxic chemical PFOA after blood tests found elevated levels in some local residents.

Michael Vincent, the leader of Wyre Council, said the issue in Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire, was too large for local authorities and the Environment Agency to handle alone.

It follows an investigation by the Environment Agency (EA) that found the contamination is likely to have come from the nearby AGC Chemicals factory, which used it in their manufacturing processes until 2012.

AGC Chemicals said the site manufactured chemicals long before the company was established and it cannot speculate on future outcomes.

Vincent said people living in Thornton were understandably concerned about the findings and wanted answers about whether their homes could be affected.

"People need to know, and they need to know sooner rather than later. They shouldn't be left to guess because this is potentially a serious health issue and could also affect the value of their homes," he said.

The council leader said the problem extended beyond the capabilities of local agencies.

"This is far bigger than a small local council like Wyre, or a regional authority covering health, like Lancashire County Council, or even a government department like the Environment Agency, which has limited powers and resources.

"There are too many organisations trying to deal with it and when it comes to a serious issue like this, it needs the Government to step in and control it at the highest level, with a designated minister to take it on."

He added that contamination from industrial chemicals was "a national issue" and called for the "polluter pays" principle to be enforced so those responsible for pollution fund the clean-up.

Thornton has been investigated by the Environment Agency for several years over PFOA contamination in soil and locally grown food.

Residents who wanted blood testing were told by the UK Health Security Agency that PFAS monitoring is not currently recommended because it is unlikely to provide clear information.

Independent tests were instead carried out by Manchester Metropolitan University, funded by Watershed and Law for Change.

Forty-nine residents volunteered, and they were told their blood test readings on Wednesday which showed 70% had increased levels of PFOA.

Residents, who keep chickens and ducks, stopped eating their eggs when residents were advised to stop consuming them.

An investigation led by the EA was launched in 2024 to examine contamination linked to the former ICI site at the Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone in Thornton.

Soil testing found elevated levels of PFOA in samples taken from residential properties and nearby allotments.

The former ICI site is now occupied by AGC Chemicals Europe, which bought the fluoropolymers factory in 1999. The company has previously said it used PFOA in manufacturing processes until 2012.

Wyre Council has advised residents not to eat fruit, vegetables or eggs produced in the affected area, while two allotment sites have been closed.

Vincent said the EA-led inquiry was now entering its fourth phase, while a separate investigation being carried out by AGC Chemicals Europe remained at an earlier stage.

Earlier this month AGC Chemicals Europe announced it would cease production at its Thornton facility by 31 December, with around 200 jobs expected to be lost.

Vincent said the closure had raised concerns about the future of the contamination investigations.

"It is clearly a worry that it is to close, although the parent company in Japan continues to engage with us and acknowledges they have a responsibility in this matter," he said.

Lancashire's public health director Dr Sakthi Karunanithi has warned people to be "really cautious" about the way they interpret the blood test results on their own, saying they could not predict future health outcomes.

He said the UKHSA had found there was currently not enough evidence to determine whether long-term PFAS exposure from industrial or manufacturing sites caused adverse health effects in nearby communities.

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