Exclusive: Bentham Residents Show High PFAS Blood Levels
Alarming concentrations of toxic forever chemicals have been detected in the blood of residents in Bentham, a North Yorkshire town identified as having the highest recorded PFAS contamination levels in the UK.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are persistent environmental pollutants often referred to as forever chemicals due to their resistance to degradation. They have been associated with numerous serious health conditions, including certain cancers. These chemicals are widely used in consumer products, notably in firefighting foams.
In May 2024, an investigation published by and revealed that groundwater in Bentham was contaminated with the highest PFAS levels ever documented in the UK. This contamination was traced to land owned by Angus Fire, a factory that legally produced PFAS-containing firefighting foam from 1976 until 2024.
Blood testing conducted for a forthcoming ITV documentary, produced by , has revealed that both residents and former Angus Fire employees have "alarming" PFAS concentrations in their bloodstreams.
Health Risk Thresholds and Blood Test Findings
The UK currently lacks official guidelines defining safe PFAS blood levels. However, the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) indicate that a combined PFAS concentration exceeding 2 ng/ml in blood may pose health risks.
The highest PFAS blood level recorded in Bentham was 405 ng/ml—over 200 times the US risk threshold—found in a former Angus Fire worker who requested anonymity.
NASEM advises that blood PFAS levels above 20 ng/ml increase the risk of adverse health effects and recommend more frequent, targeted medical screenings.
Of the 39 individuals tested in Bentham, nearly a quarter (23%) exhibited PFAS levels placing them in the highest risk category. Among them was 34-year-old Stephen Illston, whose PFAS level measured 55 ng/ml.
Personal Impact and Scientific Analysis
Illston has experienced difficulties conceiving children, which has affected his mental health and led to years of questioning his purpose.
“It’s good to hear it’s not me, maybe it’s the PFAS that’s caused it,” he said. “Finding out I had elevated PFAS in my blood was an answer I’ve been searching for.”
Research increasingly links PFAS exposure to reproductive health issues, including infertility.
Dr David Megson, a forensic environmental scientist and PFAS expert at Manchester Metropolitan University, analyzed the blood results in comparison to US population data and described the findings as "absolutely shocked" him.
“The levels were exceptionally high compared to a general [US] background population. Nearly everyone tested was above average, two-thirds were in the top 5%, and a third had levels higher than anything expected in the background population. It was really shocking and quite staggering.”
Dr Shubhi Sharma from the environmental charity Chem Trust commented on the findings:
“The PFAS levels in people’s blood in Bentham are alarming, especially given that these chemicals have been linked to a variety of adverse health outcomes including certain cancers.”
Response from Angus Fire and Regulatory Context
An Angus Fire spokesperson stated that there is "no accepted way of interpreting blood tests for PFAS internationally" and limited consensus on the relationship between PFAS exposure, blood levels, and health effects.
“It is unfounded to classify [the] blood data as ‘unusually high’ in the UK context,” the spokesperson said. They also noted the small sample size of the blood test group and added: “Having raised PFAS levels in blood is neither an indicator of health, nor of the way in which PFAS has been absorbed.”
Dr Tony Fletcher, an epidemiologist and leading PFAS expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, observed that several Bentham residents with high PFAS levels had no factory employment history, suggesting community exposure.
Potential Exposure Pathways
An internal Environment Agency report from 2024 indicated that airborne emissions from the Angus Fire factory could be a likely exposure route.
The report states that “aerial dispersal” from foam testing could expose site workers and residents through consumption of produce grown in allotments and private gardens, deeming this exposure pathway “likely.”
Dr Fletcher explained that during testing of PFAS-containing firefighting foams, chemicals can become airborne, settle at some distance, and contaminate soil and water, leading to exposure through ingestion of contaminated water or food.
Lindsay Young, who has a PFAS level of 30 ng/ml, described frequent test fires at the Angus Fire site:
“The siren goes off and then you know the smoke is coming in five or 10 minutes and you have to go inside. It’s huge billowing gusts of black smoke. You don’t know what’s in it, no one tells you what’s in it.”
An Angus Fire spokesperson responded that the Environment Agency’s risk assessment was “overstated” and emphasized that routine fire tests are conducted responsibly to ensure product efficacy. The company ceased PFAS foam testing at Bentham in 2022 and stated that their operations were not the sole source of PFAS contamination in the area.
The Environment Agency clarified that fire testing is not regulated under the site’s permit and that local councils are responsible for regulating such fires. However, the local council noted that due to the company’s firefighting connection, test fires are exempt from the Clean Air Act 1993, which otherwise prohibits dark smoke emissions from business premises.
Medical Guidance and Ongoing Investigations
Dr Fletcher serves on a scientific panel advising the Jersey government following PFAS contamination of private drinking water supplies at Jersey airport due to firefighting foam use.
The Jersey government recommends that women of childbearing age with PFAS blood levels over 10 ng/ml, or anyone with levels above 20 ng/ml who qualifies for cholesterol-lowering medication, be considered for treatment with colesevelam, a cholesterol drug shown to reduce PFAS levels, with a second-line option available.
Dr Fletcher advised that Bentham residents with elevated PFAS levels interested in reducing their body burden should consult their physicians about these options.
Angus Fire’s Statement and Documentary Broadcast
Angus Fire acknowledged concerns regarding environmental impacts from historical operations and expressed regret for the distress caused in Bentham.
“Angus Fire has been working diligently for a number of years alongside independent and industry-leading environmental consultants and the Environment Agency to establish the extent of any PFAS chemical contamination […] Angus Fire has always followed guidelines as set out by the UK regulatory and health authorities. Our own understanding of these chemicals evolved at the same rate as those of the regulators.”
The ITV documentary In Our Blood: The Forever Chemicals Scandal will air on ITV1 and ITVX at 10.15pm on Sunday 22 March.
