Kidney cancer rates near Pfas factory in Lancashire a ‘major source of concern’ | Pfas

Concerns have been raised about the conclusions of a government-funded study examining kidney cancer rates around a forever chemical-using factory near Blackpool.

Pfoa, forever known to be a carcinogen and banned globally in 2020, was released from the AGC Chemicals Europe factory in the town of Thornton-Cleveleys, north of Blackpool, between the 1950s and 2012. Approximately 49 tons of PFOA were released into the air during this period. The factory, which AGC Chemicals Europe bought in 1999, stopped using Pfoa in 2012.

Pfas, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are widely known as persistent chemicals because they do not break down in the environment. PFOA was used by AGC Chemicals Europe to make PTFE, another type of permanent chemical used in nonstick coatings for cookware.

As part of ongoing research in Blackpool, experts from Lancashire county council, the UK Health Security Agency, NHS partners, the National Disease Register Service, Wyre council and the Environment Agency formed a health cell and carried out screenings of cancer rates in several small geographical areas within a 5-kilometre radius of the factory between 2003 and 2022.

The screening did not find higher-than-expected rates for most cancers, but kidney cancer rates were found to be “higher than expected” in two areas, one to the south-east of the factory and the other north of Blackpool. International research Linked PFOA exposure to kidney cancer.

multi-institutional study They later examined the findings in more detail but found no evidence of a statistically significant excess in kidney cancer cases or a cancer cluster or environmental association. Based on this, the report concluded: “There is no need for further cluster investigation at this stage.”

However, forensic environmental scientist Dr. from Manchester Metropolitan University, who was not involved in the research. David Megson called this conclusion “very contradictory” and said it “downplays the findings rather than evaluating them objectively.”

He said that after reviewing the full study, “a higher than expected number of kidney cancer cases were clearly identified near a factory that released chemicals known to be human carcinogenic and specifically linked to kidney cancer. This is a significant concern to me.”

The report notes that the high rates of kidney cancer in the two geographic areas may be the result of random variation due to the small sample size, but Megson said there is “a large body of other evidence that suggests this is not the case.”

He added: “There are a number of limitations acknowledged in the report. I would like these to be properly assessed before concluding there is no impact.”

“If part of the land is identified as contaminated, this means that there is a possibility of serious harm. Personally, I fear that these data provide us with strong evidence that this significant possibility has been realised, and that serious harm has already occurred.”

Following environmental tests carried out by the Environment Agency, residents were advised not to eat fruits, vegetables and eggs produced within 1 kilometer of the factory. An area of ​​land bordering the factory was closed and officially classified as contaminated land after tests found high levels of Pfoa in soil and products.

Dr D., a senior lecturer in environmental cancer epidemiology at Queen’s University Belfast Center for Public Health. Dan Middleton said he would be cautious about interpreting the findings to mean there was no need for further research, “especially given that kidney cancer is one of the cancers most consistently linked to PFOA exposure.”

He added: “Observed findings should not simply be ignored; more evidence, particularly of historical findings, would help place these results in the correct context.”

Dr D., an epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and global PFAS expert. Tony Fletcher said the report showed a small excess in kidney cancer that was not statistically significant in most cases, but was “entirely consistent with a small increase in risk due to the disease”. [Pfoa] exposure”.

Experts have called for more research, including a PFOA blood test. Middleton said this was the “missing link” in the study.

Law firm Leigh Day investigate a potential legal claim On behalf of the residents of Thornton-Cleveleys against AGC Chemicals Europe. As part of this, blood tests are planned for residents.

Sarah Moore, a partner at Leigh Day, said the firm would be “working with its team of experts to fully understand these results over the coming months, as we will be offering Pfas blood tests to members of the community if they wish to gain a more comprehensive picture of their personal exposure levels.”

The multi-agency health group said: “In line with national guidance, the health unit has concluded that there is no evidence of a kidney cancer cluster and no indication of a link to environmental contamination and that no further investigation is required at this stage.”

AGC Chemicals Europe did not respond to a request for comment. A company spokesperson previously told the BBC that all its chemical processes are “rigorously monitored, controlled and comply with current UK and EU environmental laws and regulations” and that it takes its responsibilities to protect environmental health “extremely seriously”.