The UK government is launching its first comprehensive study into the prevalence of so-called 'forever chemicals' in the population, seeking to establish baseline exposure levels and understand potential health risks from substances that persist indefinitely in the environment and human bodies.
According to BBC News, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will collect blood and urine samples to measure levels of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), along with other contaminants including lead and arsenic. The agency expects to publish initial findings next year.
PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals that have been manufactured since the 1940s and 1950s for their resistance to water, oil and heat. This property has made them valuable in thousands of products ranging from non-stick cookware and waterproof clothing to aqueous film-forming foams used in firefighting. However, their resistance to degradation in the environment—the origin of the term 'forever chemicals'—has sparked growing health concerns.
What health risks are associated with PFAS?
Current evidence suggests potential health impacts from PFAS exposure are likely to be limited, though the strongest associations identified in large population studies link the chemicals to raised cholesterol levels and lower birth weights. Two specific PFAS compounds—PFOA and PFOS—are already banned in the UK because prolonged exposure to them can increase cancer risk, according to the World Health Organization.
The known risks from PFOA and PFOS exposure include elevated cholesterol, increased cancer risk, reduced antibody responses following childhood vaccinations, and various endocrine effects affecting the thyroid and foetal development. However, the field of PFAS research remains emerging, with more than 15,000 different types of these chemicals identified, each requiring separate investigation.
Recent contamination incidents have heightened public concern. In September 2026, independent blood tests found elevated levels of PFOA in residents living near a major chemical factory. According to the Blackpool Gazette, testing of 49 residents in Thornton-Cleveleys revealed that 69.4 per cent had PFOA levels above 20 nanograms per millilitre, with a group average of 26 ng/ml and none below 2 ng/ml. The same tests also detected EEA-NH4, a replacement chemical, in 10 people; the manufacturer AGC Chemicals switched to this alternative after ceasing PFOA production in 2012.
Why isn't routine blood testing recommended?
Despite public anxiety in contaminated areas, the UK government does not recommend that individuals undergo routine PFAS blood testing. Dr Edward Wynne-Evans, director of radiation, chemicals, climate and environmental hazards at the UKHSA, explained that without an established clinical intervention for elevated levels, testing would be counterproductive. "If you are going to do a test where you cannot recommend an action to follow, we would not normally recommend a test," he said.
This position reflects a gap in current knowledge. Wynne-Evans acknowledged that researchers lack clarity around "what different levels of exposure mean for an individual's long-term health", and the new study aims to "build an evidence base to better understand what might be happening".
Prof Tony Fletcher from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine noted that low levels of PFAS are likely present in most people's blood. "If we tested a random sample of anybody's blood, we would measure [PFAS] in low levels," he said. "We are not all dying because of this but at higher levels [and in larger populations] they have been associated with adverse health effects." Fletcher emphasised that while causal associations between exposure and adverse effects have been established in large population studies, the individual risk of developing disease remains relatively low at current exposure levels.
How will the study be conducted?
The UKHSA will collect samples through the existing Health Survey for England, using blood and urine to establish baseline measurements of PFAS, lead, arsenic, bisphenols, phthalates and flame retardants across the population. This approach will provide the first systematic snapshot of exposure levels among UK residents and enable comparison of different demographic groups.
What is the broader context of PFAS contamination in the UK?
PFAS contamination has emerged as a significant environmental and public health issue across multiple UK sites. A multi-agency investigation into PFOA contamination linked to the former ICI site at Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone began in 2024, reflecting the scale of industrial legacy pollution. Additionally, testing at a former RAF base earmarked for 9,000 new homes revealed the UK's worst PFAS contamination to date, with concerns raised about existing residents and a planned primary school at the location.
The financial implications of PFAS remediation are substantial. Jersey Water has estimated that measures to reduce PFAS in drinking water could cost more than £200 million, potentially raising bills by up to 110 per cent.
Lancashire County Council's public health director has requested detailed information from Manchester Metropolitan University and Leigh Day about the Thornton-Cleveleys blood tests, including their scope, methodology and findings, though as of 29 October 2026 he had not yet received a response.
Key Facts
- PFAS have been used in thousands of products since the 1940s-1950s due to their resistance to water, oil and heat
- Two PFAS compounds—PFOA and PFOS—are already banned in the UK because of cancer risk
- The strongest health associations found in population studies link PFAS to raised cholesterol and lower birth weights
- Initial results from the UKHSA study are expected in 2027
- Low levels of PFAS are likely present in most people's blood, but individual health risk at current exposure levels remains relatively low
