Expert Scrutiny of Government-Funded Research
Questions are being raised about the findings of a government-commissioned study investigating kidney cancer incidence near a factory in Lancashire that previously utilized 'forever chemicals'. The facility, operated by AGC Chemicals Europe in Thornton-Cleveleys, north of Blackpool, emitted perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) for decades.
PFOA Emissions and Carcinogenic Properties
PFOA, a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), is recognized as a carcinogenic 'forever chemical'. Although globally banned in 2020, the AGC Chemicals Europe plant released an estimated 49 tonnes of PFOA into the atmosphere between the 1950s and 2012. AGC Chemicals Europe acquired the factory in 1999 and ceased PFOA usage in 2012.
“The significant emissions of a known carcinogen like PFOA over such a prolonged period near a populated area warrant rigorous and transparent investigation into any potential health impacts,” stated one environmental health specialist.
The proximity of the former plant to residential areas and the substantial quantity of PFOA released have prompted experts to express apprehension regarding the study's interpretation of kidney cancer rates in the surrounding region. These concerns underscore the ongoing debate surrounding the long-term health implications of PFAS exposure.
Source: Kidney cancer rates near Pfas factory in Lancashire a ‘major source of concern’