Drinking water map shows where toxic ‘forever chemicals’ are found in the UK

Traces of a chemical that researchers are afraid of can damage human reproduction Found in dozens of Britain’s riverA new study warned.

Researchers from York University found trifloasetic acid (TFA) in 98% of the places in the 32 rivers in the UK, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The TFA is one of a family of more than 14,000 human -made chemicals known as perfloroalkil and polyfluoroalkil substances (PFA), which has been used in everything from waterproof clothes to non -stick frying pans since the 1940s.

Chemicals can accumulate in people’s bodies (in the water we drink) and can cause serious health problems, including cancer, liver damage and damage to unborn children.

The British government launched an investigation on the issue this year – but the campaignists say it is not enough.

Natalie Sims of the Royal Chemical Association said to Yahoo News: “There is more to do and that’s why we take action.”

Royal Chemical Association Map the levels of chemicals in the drinking waters of England (Slide down for the map)And he wants the people to take action to raise the problem.

“The people can be really strong, and when we look at the struggle with sewage overflow, it really raises the government’s agenda, because the people are forcing for it, Sim says.

“So now we really want to take action, and that’s why it was much more driving than organizations like ourselves or others. In addition to developing alternative materials, we need more powerful, stronger controls to prevent further pollution and reduce our exposure to harmful substances in the environment.”

What is ‘Forever Chemicals’?

PFAs are a group of thousands of chemicals that do not occur in nature and are extremely difficult. They are also toxic even in small amounts.

It has been used in manufacturing and consumer products since the 1940s.

Sims, “We used them in a very comprehensive way, really have really found our way for many different consumer products since the 1940s,” he explains. “For example, in your waterproof jacket, everything that is waterproof, anything stain -resistant clothes of school children. PFAs have some desired features and in terms of heat resistance, it is very good in what they do in terms of heat resistance, water and fat resistance, stain resistance, durability, most of the things that make it very useful in products.

“Because they were very insistent, they traveled towards the environment, our food, our water.

It is also used in jet motors, medical devices, cooling systems, construction industry and electric devices.

In the vicinity, they can last extremely long: hundreds or even thousands of years.

They also accumulate in the human body.

‘Forever Chemicals’ has been gradually removed from some consumer products – but still used in products such as non -stick frying pans and some packaging, but manufacturers do not want to say exactly where they are used.

When PFAs are usually used industrially or when PFA -containing products are inadequate, they enter the water source.

Where are they likely to be in the UK drinking water?

In the UK, PFA is likely to be present in water near industrial areas, including areas that produce products using airports and PFAs.

The Royal Chemical Association warns that contamination is probably near the burn ovens that are not hot enough to completely burn PFA.

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Chemicals, airports, military fields and fire training areas, including firefighters can be found close to the routine used.

Some airports, including Heathrow, have already started to use PFA -free foam.

Wastewater areas can also leech PFA.

What are the health effects?

It is linked to serious health problems such as chemicals, liver damage, some cancers and damage to unborn children, thyroid disease and fertility problems.

Large -scale studies have shown that PFA in drinking water is associated with increasing levels of cancer in many parts of the body.

A study in Ebiomnedicine magazine is related to decreased efficiency in vaccines, premature birth, increased severity of COVİD-19, cancer, decreased immune function and developmental delays in children.

What are the drinking water standards in other countries?

Water companies in the UK and Wales should monitor and regulate 48 species of PFA, although there are thousands of varieties.

However, the decision of this drinking water inspectorate is actually further than EU legislation.

Individual PFA concentrations in drinking water cannot exceed 100 nanogram (NG/L) per liter.

This is 10 times higher than 10 ng/l ‘low risk’ threshold of drinking water inspectorate.

In the United States, PFOS and PFOA, two of the most common PFAs, have 4 NG/L limits for each of them, and the EU states that 20 common PFA should not exceed 100 NG/L collectively.

What needs to change?

The Royal Chemical Association called on new limits about the amounts of PFA permitted in drinking water.

In particular, RSC has called for a new 10 ng/L limit for individual PFAs.

RSC also called for more strict controls on PFA sources, including industrial discharge, and to monitor and regulate a national chemical regulator discharge.

Sims says: “The RSC survey of more than 4,000 British adults carried out by Yougov in August showed that nine of ten British nine believes that keeping PFA away from food, water and our environment is ‘very important’. The people want to act on this issue, I think it’s really strong when it comes to talking to the government.

“In terms of industry, they are trying to move to more safer and sustainable alternatives because they are very good in their work because they have these chemicals that have been allowed to use for so long, because they have been allowed to use it for so long.

Sims says it is vital that the British people have a clearer picture of the chemicals in the water they drink.

He says: “PFAs are included in many products and materials built or imported to the UK for use in many industries.

“It is likely that the exposure you have every day will be quite low, but once, it can be really hard to determine where these negative effects can come from.”