Feeling It In Our Waters?

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a synthetic material, added to a wide range of products, including cosmetics, clothing and food packaging. It makes them water-proof and/or stain-resistent. PFOA is also one of the so-called 'forever chemicals', persisting for very extended periods in environments. Relatively high levels of this substance have now been found in almost 1000 English tap water samples (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/01/forever-chemical-in-english-tap-water-samples-carcinogenic-who-rules). PFOA (like other 'forever chemicals') has been linked to cancers, immunodeficiencies, reproductive problems and developmental issues in humans and other animals. The World Health Organisation have recently upgraded PFOA to category one status for being a human carcinogen (cancer-causing agent). This should exert pressure on the UK government to mandate that levels of 'forever chemicals' in English tap water are lowered to those now commonly found in other European nations.