Former RAF site suspected source of forever chemical pollution
High levels of PFAS have been found in a stream near an old RAF base in Upper Heyford. There are concerns the site could be the source of the contamination. The site has undergone housing development in the past 15 years, with 1,200 homes already built and 9,000 new homes proposed.
Local campaigners organised independent testing of a stream ~400m south of Upper Heyford. The testing found high levels of PFAS, including a type of PFAS known as PFOS, at concentrations 43,000 times higher than environmental standards.
PFAS are a group of around 10,000 chemicals often referred to as ‘forever chemicals’ as they are highly persistent and take generations to break down in the environment. Exposure to some PFAS has been linked with adverse health impacts, including certain cancers, reduced fertility, and the disruption of the immune system.
PFOS is a type of PFAS that was previously used in firefighting foams, amongst other uses. PFOS is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as possibly cancer-causing, and was restricted globally in 2009.
The base was active during World War Two and the Cold War and historic Ministry of Defence documents describe firefighting foam being washed down the drain. There are now concerns this is the source of forever chemicals found in nearby bodies of water. Read more in this BBC article.
Campaigners and the local MP, Calum Miller, say there is a need to test the environment and local residents so that the scale of pollution and its impact on the community can be understood.
Calum Miller highlighted the concerns in the UK Parliament and Lesley McLean, leader of the local District Council, has written a letter to water and flooding minister, Emma Hardy, requesting a meeting.
Nearly 23,000 sites across Europe alone are contaminated with PFAS, according to a 2023 project known as the Forever Pollution Project.
CHEM Trust is calling for regulators to turn off the tap on PFAS. The EU is currently considering a universal PFAS restriction, which would apply to all PFAS and control pollution at the source once introduced. CHEM Trust supports this proposal and wants to see the UK adopt the same approach.
