Lancashire Residents Found With Elevated Levels of Cancer-Linked ‘Forever Chemical’

Residents living close to a long-standing chemical manufacturing site in Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire, are facing fresh concerns after blood tests detected elevated levels of PFOA, a chemical belonging to the group commonly known as "forever chemicals".

The testing involved 49 residents living near the Hillhouse industrial site. According to results released by law firm Leigh Day, which commissioned the testing alongside researchers from Manchester Metropolitan University, 69.4% of participants had PFOA concentrations above 20 nanograms per millilitre.

The average concentration recorded across the group was 26 nanograms per millilitre. None of those tested had a result below 2 nanograms per millilitre, a level described in the testing information as the low-risk category.

The findings have intensified concerns in a community that has already been the subject of environmental investigations involving the Environment Agency and Wyre Council.

What is PFOA?

Perfluorooctanoic acid, better known as PFOA, is one of a large family of synthetic substances called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.

PFAS chemicals have been widely used because they can resist heat, water, oil and chemical reactions. Some have historically appeared in industrial processes and consumer products.

They are often called "forever chemicals" because many PFAS compounds can persist for long periods in the environment rather than breaking down easily.

PFOA has received particular attention from health authorities. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, classifies PFOA as carcinogenic to humans. The UK government also notes that studies have suggested possible associations between exposure to certain PFAS, including PFOA, and cancers such as kidney and testicular cancer.

However, an important distinction needs to be made between a chemical being classified as carcinogenic and an individual blood-test result showing that a person will develop cancer. A blood test measuring PFOA does not diagnose cancer and cannot establish that a particular person's illness was caused by the chemical.

Why are residents concerned?

The Hillhouse site has a long industrial history. PFOA was reportedly used there until 2012. The site was previously operated by ICI and is now operated by AGC Chemicals Europe.

Environmental investigations around the site have been examining possible historic contamination. According to Leigh Day, soil testing has identified elevated PFOA levels in samples from properties and nearby allotments. Local authorities have also issued advice concerning the consumption of food grown in affected areas, while two allotments have been temporarily closed.

The blood-testing project was designed to examine exposure among residents living close to the site. Participants were selected using factors including their distance from the industrial area, how long they had lived locally and whether they consumed food grown at home.

Leigh Day said the results showed particularly elevated concentrations among people living within one kilometre of the site. The firm also reported that 75% of participants who ate home-grown fruit and vegetables fell into the high-risk category used in its assessment.

These findings have raised questions about how historical industrial contamination may have affected people living in the surrounding community.

What does a high blood level actually mean?

This is one of the most important questions surrounding the story.

The presence of PFOA in a person's blood indicates exposure, but it does not by itself identify where that exposure occurred or what health outcome that individual will experience.

The UK government's current guidance states that most people in the UK are likely to have measurable levels of PFAS in their blood. Exposure can occur through multiple routes, including food, drinking water, air and everyday products.

The government also says that an individual PFAS blood test cannot determine the source of exposure, predict future health problems or establish the cause of an existing illness. For these reasons, routine PFAS blood testing is not currently recommended through the NHS or private healthcare services.

This means the Lancashire results are significant as part of an investigation into possible community exposure, but they should not be interpreted as a diagnosis for the people who took part.

Government investigation continues

The Environment Agency has been investigating the Hillhouse site and surrounding area since 2024, working with the local authority to understand the extent and nature of possible contamination.

The agency has said its investigation is continuing and is intended to establish what contamination may be present and what risks it could pose.

There is also wider scientific uncertainty about the health consequences of long-term exposure to PFAS from industrial sources.

A UK Health Security Agency review published in September 2026 examined research into communities living near industrial sites where PFAS were manufactured or used. It concluded that there is currently insufficient evidence to determine whether long-term exposure to PFAS from local industrial sites causes particular adverse health effects in nearby communities. The review also said more research is needed.

That does not mean PFAS exposure is considered harmless. Rather, it highlights the difference between evidence showing that certain PFAS can pose health hazards and evidence demonstrating a specific health effect in a particular community.

AGC Chemicals responds

AGC Chemicals Europe has acknowledged concerns arising from the blood-testing results.

The company has pointed to UK government guidance stating that PFAS biomonitoring cannot predict future health problems and is not currently recommended for individuals through the NHS or private testing.

AGC has also said that the Hillhouse site has been used for chemical manufacturing for more than a century and has had different operators during that period. The company said that the wider multi-agency investigation remains ongoing and that no formal determination of land contamination has yet been made under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act.

What happens next?

For residents, the immediate issue is likely to remain the investigation into contamination and potential exposure pathways.

Questions remain about the historical use of PFOA at the site, how much contamination may remain in surrounding soil, whether contamination has entered locally grown food or other parts of the environment, and what measures may be appropriate to reduce exposure.

The blood-testing results have added another dimension to those investigations because they provide evidence of PFOA exposure among a group of people living close to the site.

However, further scientific and regulatory work will be needed before conclusions can be drawn about the precise source of exposure or its health consequences for individual residents.

For now, the situation in Thornton-Cleveleys illustrates the complicated nature of PFAS contamination. These chemicals can persist in the environment for long periods, while determining exactly how exposure affects individuals can be considerably more difficult.

The latest findings are therefore likely to increase pressure for continued environmental monitoring, transparent communication with residents and further research into the potential effects of historical PFAS exposure.

Sources: Sky News on 24 September 2026, and current guidance and research published by the UK government and UK Health Security Agency.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for general information and reporting purposes only. It is not medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat or assess an individual's health. The detection of PFOA in blood does not mean that a person has cancer or will necessarily develop cancer. Health risks depend on factors including the type and amount of exposure, duration of exposure and individual circumstances. Anyone concerned about possible exposure or their health should seek advice from an appropriately qualified healthcare professional or follow guidance issued by relevant public health authorities.