Britain launches first major study into ‘forever chemicals’ lurking in our bodies

Scientists will examine blood and urine samples for potentially harmful substances found in everyday products, drinking water and food as concerns grow over their possible links to cancer and other health problems

Britain has launched its first major study into the amount of potentially harmful ‘forever chemicals’ building up in people’s bodies, with scientists examining blood and urine samples to investigate how widespread exposure has become.

The government-backed research will look for chemicals found in everything from non-stick frying pans and waterproof clothing to food packaging and drinking water, amid growing concern about their possible long-term effects on health.

Scientists at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will analyse samples collected through the existing Health Survey for England to establish how much of these substances is present in the population.

The study will focus on chemicals known as PFAS, which have been used in consumer products and industrial processes for decades because they resist heat, grease and water.

Their nickname comes from their ability to remain in the environment for extremely long periods, allowing them to spread through soil, rivers and drinking water before finding their way into the food chain.

Some can also remain in the human body for years.

Although researchers have identified thousands of different PFAS chemicals, the health effects of many are still poorly understood.

Two of the most closely studied, PFOA and PFOS, have been linked to raised cholesterol, lower birth weights and changes in the body’s response to vaccinations.

The World Health Organization’s cancer research agency has classified PFOA as carcinogenic to humans, while PFOS is considered possibly carcinogenic.

The new study is intended to give scientists a clearer picture of people’s exposure, helping them investigate whether certain chemicals pose greater risks and whether further restrictions are needed.

Researchers will also test for other potentially harmful substances, including lead, arsenic, chemicals used in some plastics and flame retardants.

In its official response to a parliamentary inquiry into PFAS, the government said: “most people in the UK are likely to have measurable levels of PFAS in their blood, but it is not possible to tell where the exposure came from.”

The research follows growing concern among communities living near factories and other industrial sites where PFAS contamination has been detected.

In September, blood tests involving residents near a chemical manufacturing site in Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire, revealed unusually high levels of PFOA in some participants.

A separate UKHSA review published that month found evidence linking certain PFAS exposures to lower birth weights, but concluded that the available research was insufficient to determine the wider long-term health effects on communities living near industrial sites.

The agency stated in its review that “there is currently inadequate evidence to determine if there are potential adverse effects of chronic (long-term) PFAS exposure from local industrial or manufacturing sites producing and using PFAS and PFAS-containing products, on the health of nearby communities.”

The agency has also warned against routine individual PFAS blood tests, explaining that detecting the chemicals does not necessarily mean someone will become ill.

There is currently no established medical treatment recommended simply because a person has elevated PFAS levels in their blood.

Instead, the new research will examine exposure across the population, helping scientists establish what typical levels look like and identify areas requiring further investigation.

The programme forms part of the government’s wider efforts to address PFAS pollution, including monitoring water supplies, examining chemicals in consumer products and reducing contamination from industrial sites.

The first results are expected in 2027.

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_{Main image: Plastic water bottles and disposable cups are among the everyday products associated with concerns about chemical exposure, as the UK government launches its first major study into levels of ‘forever chemicals’ in people’s bodies. Scientists will examine blood and urine samples to measure exposure to PFAS, a group of persistent chemicals that can enter the body through food and drinking water, although the study does not specifically test the products pictured. Credit: Polina Tankilevitch via Pexels}