Tests of 49 residents near AGC’s Thornton-Cleveleys plant found raised PFOA levels in 70%. Mario Panteli called his result “really high” and said he feared for his children and pregnant wife. Lancashire’s public health director said the tests cannot predict future health.
Independent tests were offered by Manchester Metropolitan University and funded by investigative journalists Watershed and Law for Change. The Environment Agency has investigated possible contamination of soil and locally grown food near the site for years. AGC Chemicals used PFOA in manufacturing until 2012, then switched to EEA-NH4, which was also found in 10 residents’ blood. The UK banned PFOA in 2020 after the World Health Organization classified it as a Group 1 carcinogen.
UKHSA does not recommend PFAS blood monitoring, saying tests are unlikely to provide clear information for individuals. Lancashire’s public health director said evidence remains insufficient to determine whether long-term PFAS exposure from industrial or manufacturing sites causes adverse effects in nearby communities. AGC said the multi-agency investigation is ongoing and no formal determination of land contamination has been made; it noted chemicals were made at the site before the company was established. AGC announced the factory would close later this year, citing no viable solution to keep it operating in a volatile, competitive market.
