The United Kingdom is initiating its first-ever study to measure the levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as 'forever chemicals,' within the general population. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will collect blood and urine samples through the existing Health Survey for England to establish baseline levels of these chemicals, along with lead, arsenic, bisphenols, phthalates, and flame retardants.
The study aims to understand potential health risks associated with these substances. While current evidence suggests that health impacts from PFAS are likely limited, the strongest links identified in large population groups include raised cholesterol and lower birth weights. The UKHSA expects the first results from this study next year.
PFAS have been widely used since the 1940s and 1950s due to their resistance to water, oil, and heat, making them useful in products like cookware, clothing, and firefighting foams. However, their persistence in the environment has raised health concerns. The World Health Organization notes that two specific PFAS, PFOA and PFOS, are already banned in the UK because prolonged exposure can increase the risk of cancer. Research into the vast array of over 15,000 types of PFAS is an emerging field.
Dr. Edward Wynne-Evans, director of radiation, chemicals, climate and environmental hazards at the UKHSA, acknowledged that there are knowledge gaps regarding the long-term health implications of various exposure levels. He noted that the government does not currently recommend routine PFAS blood testing for individuals because there is no established clinical intervention for elevated levels. "If you are going to do a test where you cannot recommend an action to follow, we would not normally recommend a test," he stated, emphasizing the study's role in building evidence.
Experts suggest that low levels of PFAS are likely present in most people's blood. Professor Tony Fletcher from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine commented that while widespread low-level exposure is common and individuals are not necessarily at high risk, higher concentrations in larger populations have been associated with adverse health effects. The known risks for the banned PFAS, PFOA and PFOS, include increased cholesterol, a greater risk of cancer, reduced antibody levels after childhood vaccinations, and endocrine effects linked to the thyroid, as well as lower birth weights. Fletcher stressed the importance of stopping ongoing exposure to mitigate potential long-term effects.