Latest news with #NatalieSims
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Drinking water map shows where toxic ‘forever chemicals' are found in the UK
Traces of a chemical that researchers fear could harm human reproduction have been found in dozens of Britain's rivers, a new study has warned. Researchers from York University found trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in 98% of locations in 32 rivers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. TFA is one of a family of more than 14,000 man-made chemicals known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs), which have been used since the 1940s in everything from waterproof clothing to non-stick frying pans, as well as cosmetics and food packaging. The chemicals can accumulate in people's bodies (as well as in the water we drink) and can lead to serious health issues including cancer, liver damage and harm to unborn children. The UK government launched an inquiry this year into the issue - but campaigners say not enough is being done. Natalie Sims, from the Royal Society of Chemistry, told Yahoo News: 'There is more that could be being done, and that is why we are calling for action.' The Royal Society of Chemistry has mapped levels of the chemicals in Britain's drinking waters, and is calling for the public to take action to raise the issue. 'The public can be really powerful, and I think we have seen that when we look at tackling sewage overflows, that's really been pushed up the government agenda, because the public is also pushing for it," Sims says. 'That's why we really want to take action now, and that's why there's been much more push for it from organisations like ourselves or others. In addition to developing alternative materials, we urgently need stronger, more robust controls to prevent further pollution and reduce our exposure to harmful substances in the environment.' PFAs are a group of thousands of chemicals that don't occur in nature and are extremely hard to get rid of. They also also toxic, even in small quantities. They have been used in manufacturing and consumer products since the 1940s. 'We've used them so extensively, really since the 1940s they found our way in so many different consumer products," Sims explains. "For example, in your waterproof coat, anything waterproofing, school children's clothing, anything stain resistant. PFAs have some desirable properties, and are so good at what they do in terms of that heat resistance, that water and oil resistance, stain resistance, durability, often a lot of the things that makes it very useful in products. 'Because they're so persistent, they obviously found their way into the environment, into our food, into our water. They are also used in jet engines, medical devices, refrigeration systems, the construction industry and electrical devices. In the environment, they can last for extremely long periods: hundreds or even thousands of years. They also accumulate in human bodies. 'Forever chemicals' have been phased out of some consumer products - but are still used in products such as non-stick frying pans and some packaging, although manufacturers tend to be reluctant to say exactly where they are used. The dangers attached to PFAs often comes when they are used industrially, or when products containing PFAs are disposed of inadequately, meaning they enter the water supply. In the UK, PFAs are most likely to be found in water near industrial sites including airports and areas that produce products which use PFAs. The Royal Society of Chemistry warns that contamination is likely near landfill sites where liquid contaminated with PFAs can leak out of the site, or near incinerators which often are not hot enough to fully burn chemicals can also be found near where firefighting foam is routinely used, including airports, military sites and fire-training areas. Some airports, including Heathrow, have already switched to using foam which does not contain PFAs. Wastewater sites can also leech PFAs into the water. The chemicals have been linked to serious health issues including liver damage, some cancers and harm to unborn children, thyroid disease and fertility issues. Large-scale studies have shown that PFAs in drinking water correlates with increased levels of cancer in multiple parts of the body. A review in the journal eBioMedicine linked PFAs exposure to decreased efficiency in vaccines, premature birth, increased severity of COVID-19, along with cancer, reduced immune function and developmental delays in children. Water companies in England and Wales must monitor and regulate 48 types of PFAs, despite there being thousands of varieties, with many remaining untested. But this Drinking Water Inspectorate ruling actually goes further than EU legislation. Individual PFAs concentrations in drinking water cannot exceed 100 nanograms per litre (ng/L). This is 10 times higher than the Drinking Water Inspectorate's own 'low risk' threshold of 10 ng/L. In the US, there are limits of 4 ng/L for each of PFOS and PFOA, two of the most common PFAs, and the EU states that 20 widespread PFAs must collectively not exceed 100 ng/L. The Royal Society of Chemistry has called for new limits on the amounts of PFAs permissible in drinking water. Specifically the RSC has called for a new limit of 10 ng/L for individual PFAs. The RSC has also called for stricter controls over the sources of PFAs including in industrial discharges, with a national chemicals regulator to monitor and regulate discharges. Sims says: 'An RSC survey of more than 4,000 UK adults, carried out by YouGov in August showed nine in ten Britons believe it's 'very important' to keep PFAS out of our food, water and environment. The public do want action on this, which I think is really powerful when it comes to speaking to the government. 'In terms of industry, having them push to develop alternatives, because they've had these chemicals that they've been allowed to use for so long, in terms of because they're so good at what they do, it's trying to transition that away into more, safer and sort of sustainable alternatives. Sims says that it's also vital that British people have a clearer picture of the chemicals in the water they drink. She says: 'PFAS are contained in many products and ingredients that are made or imported to the UK for use across many industries. However, we do not have a full picture of how PFAS enter and move within the supply chain. 'It's likely that the exposure you have on the everyday is going to be quite low, but it's that long term build up where, for one thing, it can be really challenging to pinpoint where those adverse effects could come from.'
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Drinking water map shows where toxic ‘forever chemicals' are found in the UK
Traces of a chemical that researchers fear could harm human reproduction have been found in dozens of Britain's rivers, a new study has warned. Researchers from York University found trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in 98% of locations in 32 rivers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. TFA is one of a family of more than 14,000 man-made chemicals known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs), which have been used since the 1940s in everything from waterproof clothing to non-stick frying pans, as well as cosmetics and food packaging. The chemicals can accumulate in people's bodies (as well as in the water we drink) and can lead to serious health issues including cancer, liver damage and harm to unborn children. The UK government launched an inquiry this year into the issue - but campaigners say not enough is being done. Natalie Sims, from the Royal Society of Chemistry, told Yahoo News: 'There is more that could be being done, and that is why we are calling for action.' The Royal Society of Chemistry has mapped levels of the chemicals in Britain's drinking waters, and is calling for the public to take action to raise the issue. 'The public can be really powerful, and I think we have seen that when we look at tackling sewage overflows, that's really been pushed up the government agenda, because the public is also pushing for it," Sims says. 'That's why we really want to take action now, and that's why there's been much more push for it from organisations like ourselves or others. In addition to developing alternative materials, we urgently need stronger, more robust controls to prevent further pollution and reduce our exposure to harmful substances in the environment.' PFAs are a group of thousands of chemicals that don't occur in nature and are extremely hard to get rid of. They also also toxic, even in small quantities. They have been used in manufacturing and consumer products since the 1940s. 'We've used them so extensively, really since the 1940s they found our way in so many different consumer products," Sims explains. "For example, in your waterproof coat, anything waterproofing, school children's clothing, anything stain resistant. PFAs have some desirable properties, and are so good at what they do in terms of that heat resistance, that water and oil resistance, stain resistance, durability, often a lot of the things that makes it very useful in products. 'Because they're so persistent, they obviously found their way into the environment, into our food, into our water. They are also used in jet engines, medical devices, refrigeration systems, the construction industry and electrical devices. In the environment, they can last for extremely long periods: hundreds or even thousands of years. They also accumulate in human bodies. 'Forever chemicals' have been phased out of some consumer products - but are still used in products such as non-stick frying pans and some packaging, although manufacturers tend to be reluctant to say exactly where they are used. The dangers attached to PFAs often comes when they are used industrially, or when products containing PFAs are disposed of inadequately, meaning they enter the water supply. In the UK, PFAs are most likely to be found in water near industrial sites including airports and areas that produce products which use PFAs. The Royal Society of Chemistry warns that contamination is likely near landfill sites where liquid contaminated with PFAs can leak out of the site, or near incinerators which often are not hot enough to fully burn PFAs. The chemicals can also be found near where firefighting foam is routinely used, including airports, military sites and fire-training areas. Some airports, including Heathrow, have already switched to using foam which does not contain PFAs. Wastewater sites can also leech PFAs into the water. The chemicals have been linked to serious health issues including liver damage, some cancers and harm to unborn children, thyroid disease and fertility issues. Large-scale studies have shown that PFAs in drinking water correlates with increased levels of cancer in multiple parts of the body. A review in the journal eBioMedicine linked PFAs exposure to decreased efficiency in vaccines, premature birth, increased severity of COVID-19, along with cancer, reduced immune function and developmental delays in children. Water companies in England and Wales must monitor and regulate 48 types of PFAs, despite there being thousands of varieties, with many remaining untested. But this Drinking Water Inspectorate ruling actually goes further than EU legislation. Individual PFAs concentrations in drinking water cannot exceed 100 nanograms per litre (ng/L). This is 10 times higher than the Drinking Water Inspectorate's own 'low risk' threshold of 10 ng/L. In the US, there are limits of 4 ng/L for each of PFOS and PFOA, two of the most common PFAs, and the EU states that 20 widespread PFAs must collectively not exceed 100 ng/L. The Royal Society of Chemistry has called for new limits on the amounts of PFAs permissible in drinking water. Specifically the RSC has called for a new limit of 10 ng/L for individual PFAs. The RSC has also called for stricter controls over the sources of PFAs including in industrial discharges, with a national chemicals regulator to monitor and regulate discharges. Sims says: 'An RSC survey of more than 4,000 UK adults, carried out by YouGov in August showed nine in ten Britons believe it's 'very important' to keep PFAS out of our food, water and environment. The public do want action on this, which I think is really powerful when it comes to speaking to the government. 'In terms of industry, having them push to develop alternatives, because they've had these chemicals that they've been allowed to use for so long, in terms of because they're so good at what they do, it's trying to transition that away into more, safer and sort of sustainable alternatives. Sims says that it's also vital that British people have a clearer picture of the chemicals in the water they drink. She says: 'PFAS are contained in many products and ingredients that are made or imported to the UK for use across many industries. However, we do not have a full picture of how PFAS enter and move within the supply chain. 'It's likely that the exposure you have on the everyday is going to be quite low, but it's that long term build up where, for one thing, it can be really challenging to pinpoint where those adverse effects could come from.'
North Wales Chronicle
19-05-2025
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Government ‘could miss chance to tackle chemical pollutants from wastewater'
The organisation said the cost of cleaning up chemicals from the environment could be left to taxpayers in future unless the UK follows the EU and France to introduce a 'polluter pays' principle. This requires industries responsible for producing or using harmful contaminants to contribute to the cost of their removal or remediation. Wastewater treatment plants in the UK are currently not equipped to remove contaminants of emerging concern (CCs) – pollutants that may harm human health and nature but for which there is little restriction, legislation or monitoring data. CCs include pharmaceuticals, pesticides, illicit drugs and PFAs – known as 'forever chemicals' because they take centuries to break down – that can enter the environment in many ways, including through effluent streams. It comes amid ongoing public outrage at the state of England's waterways, where no river has reported a 'good' status for chemical pollution under current the current monitoring programme. The Government's planned water sector reforms focus on measures to tackle sewage pollution, after utilities have been increasingly dumping untreated wastewater into seas, lakes and rivers during periods of wet or stormy weather. The RSC argued that ministers should use the opportunity of upcoming reforms to introduce measures that help to remove CCs from wastewater as well. Natalie Sims, policy adviser at the RSC, said: 'With so much attention right now on tackling sewage overflows and upgrading wastewater treatment plants, this is a crucial opportunity to address chemical pollutants at the same time. 'If we're already making major changes, we should be ambitious – focusing solely on sewage risks missing the chance to protect our waters more fully and for the long term.' As the UK and EU Summit takes place in London on Monday, the RSC also said the Government should align more closely with Europe on wastewater rules. The EU recently revised its laws to introduce a 'polluter pays' principle, which levies money from industries such as cosmetics or pharmaceuticals that cause chemical pollution to fund their removal at wastewater treatment plants. France also passed a bill to tax firms that emit PFAs to the environment. Ms Sims said: 'Unlike recent French and EU initiatives that apply a 'polluter pays' levy to fund the removal of these hazardous substances, UK industry faces no such requirement. 'As a result, taxpayers may ultimately shoulder the costs of tackling contaminants, which we believe is unfair.' An RSC survey of more than 4,000 UK adults, carried out by YouGov in August, found that nine in 10 think it is 'very important' to effectively control levels of the group of chemicals in food, drinking water and the environment. When asked to rank who should be held most responsible for reducing PFAs levels, 74% and 73% of respondents said manufacturers of chemicals and products respectively. This was followed by 58% saying the UK Government was next highest ranked as bearing significant responsibility. However, overall trust that action would to be taken was found to be low, with the UK Government being trusted by 29% of respondents while just 14% said they trusted product or chemical manufacturers to change. Stephanie Metzger, RSC policy adviser, said: 'People were overwhelmingly supportive of stronger controls on PFAs use, making sure that it doesn't get into our water, food or the environment.' She argued that without investing in treatment technology and infrastructure now, the cost to clean up these chemicals later will be a lot higher. 'Once they're in the environment – they're diffuse, they're dispersed throughout water, land, air in all these different areas – it's so much harder to put them back in the jar once you've let them out. 'So from a cost-benefit analysis perspective, you're going to be avoiding a lot more costs by investing in treatment now.' PA has contacted the Environment Department (Defra) for comment.
South Wales Guardian
19-05-2025
- Health
- South Wales Guardian
Government ‘could miss chance to tackle chemical pollutants from wastewater'
The organisation said the cost of cleaning up chemicals from the environment could be left to taxpayers in future unless the UK follows the EU and France to introduce a 'polluter pays' principle. This requires industries responsible for producing or using harmful contaminants to contribute to the cost of their removal or remediation. Wastewater treatment plants in the UK are currently not equipped to remove contaminants of emerging concern (CCs) – pollutants that may harm human health and nature but for which there is little restriction, legislation or monitoring data. CCs include pharmaceuticals, pesticides, illicit drugs and PFAs – known as 'forever chemicals' because they take centuries to break down – that can enter the environment in many ways, including through effluent streams. It comes amid ongoing public outrage at the state of England's waterways, where no river has reported a 'good' status for chemical pollution under current the current monitoring programme. The Government's planned water sector reforms focus on measures to tackle sewage pollution, after utilities have been increasingly dumping untreated wastewater into seas, lakes and rivers during periods of wet or stormy weather. The RSC argued that ministers should use the opportunity of upcoming reforms to introduce measures that help to remove CCs from wastewater as well. Natalie Sims, policy adviser at the RSC, said: 'With so much attention right now on tackling sewage overflows and upgrading wastewater treatment plants, this is a crucial opportunity to address chemical pollutants at the same time. 'If we're already making major changes, we should be ambitious – focusing solely on sewage risks missing the chance to protect our waters more fully and for the long term.' As the UK and EU Summit takes place in London on Monday, the RSC also said the Government should align more closely with Europe on wastewater rules. The EU recently revised its laws to introduce a 'polluter pays' principle, which levies money from industries such as cosmetics or pharmaceuticals that cause chemical pollution to fund their removal at wastewater treatment plants. France also passed a bill to tax firms that emit PFAs to the environment. Ms Sims said: 'Unlike recent French and EU initiatives that apply a 'polluter pays' levy to fund the removal of these hazardous substances, UK industry faces no such requirement. 'As a result, taxpayers may ultimately shoulder the costs of tackling contaminants, which we believe is unfair.' An RSC survey of more than 4,000 UK adults, carried out by YouGov in August, found that nine in 10 think it is 'very important' to effectively control levels of the group of chemicals in food, drinking water and the environment. When asked to rank who should be held most responsible for reducing PFAs levels, 74% and 73% of respondents said manufacturers of chemicals and products respectively. This was followed by 58% saying the UK Government was next highest ranked as bearing significant responsibility. However, overall trust that action would to be taken was found to be low, with the UK Government being trusted by 29% of respondents while just 14% said they trusted product or chemical manufacturers to change. Stephanie Metzger, RSC policy adviser, said: 'People were overwhelmingly supportive of stronger controls on PFAs use, making sure that it doesn't get into our water, food or the environment.' She argued that without investing in treatment technology and infrastructure now, the cost to clean up these chemicals later will be a lot higher. 'Once they're in the environment – they're diffuse, they're dispersed throughout water, land, air in all these different areas – it's so much harder to put them back in the jar once you've let them out. 'So from a cost-benefit analysis perspective, you're going to be avoiding a lot more costs by investing in treatment now.' PA has contacted the Environment Department (Defra) for comment.
Powys County Times
19-05-2025
- Health
- Powys County Times
Government ‘could miss chance to tackle chemical pollutants from wastewater'
The Government could miss the chance to ensure chemical pollutants are removed from wastewater as part of its major reforms to the industry, the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) has warned. The organisation said the cost of cleaning up chemicals from the environment could be left to taxpayers in future unless the UK follows the EU and France to introduce a 'polluter pays' principle. This requires industries responsible for producing or using harmful contaminants to contribute to the cost of their removal or remediation. Wastewater treatment plants in the UK are currently not equipped to remove contaminants of emerging concern (CCs) – pollutants that may harm human health and nature but for which there is little restriction, legislation or monitoring data. CCs include pharmaceuticals, pesticides, illicit drugs and PFAs – known as 'forever chemicals' because they take centuries to break down – that can enter the environment in many ways, including through effluent streams. It comes amid ongoing public outrage at the state of England's waterways, where no river has reported a 'good' status for chemical pollution under current the current monitoring programme. The Government's planned water sector reforms focus on measures to tackle sewage pollution, after utilities have been increasingly dumping untreated wastewater into seas, lakes and rivers during periods of wet or stormy weather. The RSC argued that ministers should use the opportunity of upcoming reforms to introduce measures that help to remove CCs from wastewater as well. Natalie Sims, policy adviser at the RSC, said: 'With so much attention right now on tackling sewage overflows and upgrading wastewater treatment plants, this is a crucial opportunity to address chemical pollutants at the same time. 'If we're already making major changes, we should be ambitious – focusing solely on sewage risks missing the chance to protect our waters more fully and for the long term.' As the UK and EU Summit takes place in London on Monday, the RSC also said the Government should align more closely with Europe on wastewater rules. The EU recently revised its laws to introduce a 'polluter pays' principle, which levies money from industries such as cosmetics or pharmaceuticals that cause chemical pollution to fund their removal at wastewater treatment plants. France also passed a bill to tax firms that emit PFAs to the environment. Ms Sims said: 'Unlike recent French and EU initiatives that apply a 'polluter pays' levy to fund the removal of these hazardous substances, UK industry faces no such requirement. 'As a result, taxpayers may ultimately shoulder the costs of tackling contaminants, which we believe is unfair.' An RSC survey of more than 4,000 UK adults, carried out by YouGov in August, found that nine in 10 think it is 'very important' to effectively control levels of the group of chemicals in food, drinking water and the environment. When asked to rank who should be held most responsible for reducing PFAs levels, 74% and 73% of respondents said manufacturers of chemicals and products respectively. This was followed by 58% saying the UK Government was next highest ranked as bearing significant responsibility. However, overall trust that action would to be taken was found to be low, with the UK Government being trusted by 29% of respondents while just 14% said they trusted product or chemical manufacturers to change. Stephanie Metzger, RSC policy adviser, said: 'People were overwhelmingly supportive of stronger controls on PFAs use, making sure that it doesn't get into our water, food or the environment.' She argued that without investing in treatment technology and infrastructure now, the cost to clean up these chemicals later will be a lot higher. 'Once they're in the environment – they're diffuse, they're dispersed throughout water, land, air in all these different areas – it's so much harder to put them back in the jar once you've let them out. 'So from a cost-benefit analysis perspective, you're going to be avoiding a lot more costs by investing in treatment now.'
