A recent investigation by ENDS Report has revealed the UK’s highest known concentrations of PFAS in the groundwater of the small market town, Bentham. Some of the specific forever chemicals detected include those with known health impacts, such as PFOA, recognised by the World Health Organisation as a class one carcinogen.

PFAS are a family of over 10,000 highly persistent synthetic chemicals. They do not easily break down in the natural environment and will last for generations, giving them the nickname, the ‘forever chemicals’. PFAS have been found across the globe, from the remote Arctic to the blood of EU Leaders. PFAS are used in a wide range of products, including in firefighting foams for their ability to help liquids spread more easily, which aids the foam in extinguishing fire.

A series of freedom of information requests revealed the highest known levels of PFAS pollution in the UK in the groundwater of Angus Fire’s Bentham site.

Groundwater tested at the site in 2008 was shown to have PFAS levels of 1,199,000 ng/l. These concentrations were said to be the highest levels that academic, Dr Patrick Bryne from Liverpool John Moores University, has ever come across.

Samples showed the presence of both PFOA and PFOS, globally banned chemicals due to their hazardous properties.

All samples were taken from groundwater near Angus Fire’s wastewater lagoons. These lagoons are situated just metres from a row of residential terrace houses.

Angus Fire, otherwise known as Angus International Safety Group, claims to be “a global leader in firefighting technology”, and has been producing PFAS-containing firefighting foams in Bentham since the 1970s.

Whilst Angus Fire did not violate any regulations by producing PFAS, they were found to have breached their environmental permits, with one permit being breached 20 times in the past decade, resulting in a warning from the Environment Agency.

CHEM Trust Scientific Research Assistant, Dr. Shubhi Sharma, commented that the levels of PFAS recorded were “very concerning”, with exposure to some PFAS being linked to “serious health impacts such as liver damage and increased risk of breast, kidney, and testicular cancer”.

A spokesperson from the Environment Agency stated that the department is reviewing Angus Fire’s environmental permit concerning PFAS. Angus Fire is no longer manufacturing or testing PFAS-containing foam products and has said that it is “committed to continuous improvement” in its operations.

Current UK regulations on PFAS are outdated and not protective enough. CHEM Trust is calling for a ban on all PFAS in consumer products in both the UK and the EU by 2025; followed by a ban on the whole family of PFAS chemicals by 2030.

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