People 'traumatised' by PFAS threat - expert

The chair of a panel which tested Jersey's food and soil for "forever chemicals" believes people have been "traumatised" by contamination fears.

The independent scientific advisory panel found many food samples contained below detectable levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and most were below EU safety limits.

PFAS, known as "forever chemicals" because they take a long time to break down, have previously been linked to serious health conditions including including kidney and testicular cancer.

Dr Steve Hajioff said the test results had been reassuring, but it had been difficult to convince some people to believe the reports.

"I think there are people who have been traumatised by the fear of contamination in the past," Dr Hajioff said.

"I can understand completely why they would be upset and distressed by that."

In the early 1990s, foam which contained PFAS and was used on Jersey Airport's fire training ground leaked into the neighbouring area and private borehole water supplies.

In May, consultants found the affected area near the airport was "larger than previously understood".

Dr Hajioff said he believed people often "felt scared" when water supplies might be contaminated or as clean as desired.

Jersey Water said its tests showed the water supply was fully compliant with water quality regulations.

Dr Hajioff added he thought he would probably become "the person nobody trusts" when he was appointed to chair the panel.

"You do the best that you possibly can," he said.

"You convince the bulk of people that you've behaved in a trustworthy fashion, and just accept that there are going to be people on either side of an argument who will never be satisfied."

The environment minister is due to respond to the panel's draft recommendations for managing PFAS in February.

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