Residents near Lancashire chemicals plant told to peel homegrown produce
Residents around a chemicals plant have been told to wash and peel homegrown vegetables before eating while an investigation into potential soil contamination with a cancer-causing chemical PFOA gets under way.
Watershed has uncovered docs that show that 115 tonnes of PFOA has been emitted since the 1950s. Being a ‘forever chemical’ that doesn’t break down, it is likely to still be in the environment somewhere.
Experts say they are shocked that action wasn’t taken sooner, that kms around the plant could be affected, and that the investigation into contam is too limited and should be looking for more than just one PFAS.
The Environment Agency, the UK Health Security Agency and Wyre Council are working together to see whether the area has been affected. They are testing public land in the first instance and may cast the net wider if contamination is found.
A former worker told Watershed that the plant has improved its processes but that “settling tanks and effluent pits used to overflow in heavy rain and everything would get into the river … we had to use anti-foam to stop the river frothing up.”
