Latest news with #PerfluorooctanoicAcid
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
New tests find raised carcinogen levels near plant
Further testing has shown shown raised levels of a potentially cancer-causing substance near to a chemical plant, a council has said. Wyre District Council said samples of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) were found in an area in the south east of the Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone in Thornton-Cleveleys. PFOA was used at the former ICI site between the 1950s and 2012. A council spokesperson said it recognised the news was "likely to cause concern for many people", adding that further testing was to take place in the autumn. AGC Chemicals Europe, which took over part of the ICI plant, has said it stopped using Perfluoroalkyl and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in 2012, and that 40 years of monitoring showed no "significant impact" from emissions. The authority said scientists had analysed the soil samples taken from within 500m of the Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone. The council said analysis of the soil samples "confirmed that more detailed sampling is now required in an area to the south east of the Hillhouse site". They said it was important to note that no part of the area had been formally determined as contaminated, adding that finding answers quickly was an "absolute priority". Last year, after previous testing, Wyre District Council warned people living near to the site not to eat fruit and vegetables grown in local soil. A recent BBC investigation into concerns about PFOA in the area heard from residents who feared their health may have been affected by the presence of the chemical in the local environment. The majority of the 63 locations tested within 500 metres of Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone were considered lower priority for further sampling at this time, the council said. Letters are to be sent to residents whose properties were sampled as part of the programme. Current advice from the UK Health Security Agency is that local residents should follow the usual hygiene precautions by washing hands thoroughly after working or playing in the garden or allotment, especially when in contact with soil and before handling food or drink. The Food Standards Agency advises residents to wash and peel any produce grown in the soil within 1km of Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone to remove any soil or dust before eating. A drop-in session for residents to ask questions about phase two of the investigation is taking place at Thornton-Cleveleys Football Club between 16:00 and 19:00 BST on Wednesday 23 July. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Cancer fears in shadow of 'forever chemical' plant Food warning over carcinogenic chemical at plant Council warns about food grown near chemical site Wyre Council
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Low levels of forever chemicals detected in West Oahu water
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Concerns are being raised in west Oahu after small amounts of PFAS — otherwise known as forever chemicals — were detected in water samples. Officials said the water is safe but KHON2 heard from lawmakers who want more transparency. 10 tips foreign tourists need to know before visiting Hawaiʻi amid mass travel warnings The Department of Health on Monday, March 31 that two new forever chemicals were detected in water samples from wells that serve residents from Ewa to Makaha. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply had sent out a on Tuesday, March 25. 'These are PFAS chemicals that are currently have no standards. There's no EPA regulation, and Department of Health has some environmental action levels that we use to kind of understand whether or not it's a concern. The levels in relation to those numbers are so small that it doesn't have a concern,' said Honolulu Board of Water Supply deputy manager Erwin Kawata. Monthly testing found one PFAS chemical as far back as November, 2024 and it was still detectable through the beginning of February, 2025. Kawata said they have switched to weekly well testing.'November? This is now March, April and we are only being told now! I would have thought that any issue with PFAS, was should be something that people should be alert of, whether small or not,' said Nanakuli/Maili/Honokai Hale Rep. Darius Kila. Forever chemicals detected in Oahu Navy drinking water 'It's a small amount to where there should be no concern,' said House Health Committee member Rep. Diamond Garcia. 'But any time residents hear there's forever chemicals in our water system, it gives us a pause, 'Do I want to cook our rice with it, shower in it, brush our teeth with it?'' PFAS were first detected on Oahu in 2020 after EPA testing standards were made more strict, but they have been in use since the 1940's. 'What's different is that we are seeing something that we haven't seen in 2020,' Kawata said. 'Are these numbers more stable or are they changing or are they going down in any way, it's something that we want to keep an eye on and keep on surveillance.' One of the chemicals out west — Perfluorooctanoic Acid — has been identified as a carcinogen and is linked to birth defects. 'It's kind of scary because I think we're just accepting the fact that this is the new reality we're living with, but it's not 'harmful or dangerous,'' Rep. Kila said, 'because in its most earliest iterations, all of our water was never tainted like this. Ever.' Check out more news from around Hawaii for more information about PFAS. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
