By Ade Alao
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October 17, 2024
October, 2024 The Environment Agency (EA) in England has raised concerns over the rising number of sites polluted with toxic PFAS chemicals, known as “forever chemicals.” Sites such as a former RAF airfield and fire protection equipment suppliers are flagged as problem areas, yet the EA says it lacks sufficient budget to address these growing contamination issues. Current efforts are focused on just four sites, while the total number of contaminated locations could exceed 10,000. PFAS have been linked to cancer and other health risks, with widespread use in firefighting foams being a key source of contamination. Despite the severity of the issue, the cost of investigating and cleaning these sites is daunting, with estimates for just the four current problem sites running between £1.8m and £2.7m. The agency’s entire contaminated land budget is only £500,000, leaving little room to expand efforts. Environmental organisations have called for urgent action and emphasized the importance of holding the chemical industry accountable. The UK government has begun reviewing its environmental plans, and the EA continues to work with local authorities to better understand the scope of PFAS pollution. However, significant financial and policy challenges remain in tackling this critical environmental issue. For further reading, please click here .