Homes at 'high risk' from contaminated soil

3 hours ago

Gina MillsonLancashire political reporter

News image — Sam Hammond, who lives near the plant, said her ducks' eggs are contaminated with chemicals

sam hammond Sam poses for the camera, holding her two ducks. She has grey hair. — Sam Hammond, who lives near the plant, said her ducks' eggs are contaminated with chemicals

An ongoing investigation into so-called "forever chemicals" in soil has identified seven homes near a former industrial site in Lancashire as being high risk.

Results of soil samples for 71 properties showed concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) near an Imperial Chemical Industries site in Thorton-Cleveleys, which stopped using PFOAs in 2012.

No action was needed in the majority of cases but the seven "high risk" properties will now require further investigation, Wyre Council said.

PFOAs are used in many everyday products such as school uniforms because of their oil resistant and waterproof properties, but can have long-standing negative effects on the environment.

Council leader Michael Vincent said the homes had been contacted by post although the seriousness of the situation was not yet known.

"The health risk is still considered to be low, so the advice remains the same, if you grow fruit and vegetables in the ground or rear chickens or ducks, don't eat it," he said.

He said the Food Standards Agency had advised residents to grow crops "above ground" to avoid problems of contaminated soil.

Tom Richardson/Wiki Commons Shot of the ICI site taken far away. The plant can be seen in the distance which is surrounded by low, green fields. — PFOAs were processed and released into the air at the site in Thorton-Cleveleys for more than half a century

Last month, the BBC heard from one concerned resident who lives within the 0.6 mile (1km) affected zone around the ICI plant.

Sam Hammond, who rears ducks and eats there eggs, said she was "worried" to understand they contained raised levels of the potentially cancer-causing chemical.

The Food Standards Agency said eating just one of these eggs a week would go over the safe weekly limit.

Sam said she had been aiming to teach her children where their food comes from but now she "can't sleep".

In efforts to keep the public informed, the council is holding drop-in sessions for people to ask questions directly to experts about the ongoing investigation.

Sessions will be held on 12 and 17 March at Thornton-Cleveleys Football Club from 16:00-19:00 GMT.

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