What should residents worried about cancer-causing forever chemicals do?

A public health director is warning dozens of people living near a chemical factory who have been found to have "really high levels" of a potentially cancer-causing forever chemical in their blood to be "really cautious" about the way they interpret their blood test results.

Some 49 residents near the AGC Chemicals plant in Thornton-Cleveleys where PFOA - an industrial substance which was historically used- were tested. Seven out of ten residents were found to have elevated levels.

What should residents who are worried about this do now? We asked Lancashire's director of public health Dr Sakthi Karunanithi for his reaction to the results and his message to residents.

The area in Thornton-Cleveleys has been under investigation for years by the Environment Agency over contamination of soils and locally grown food from the substance used to manufacture non-stick frying pans until 2012.

Karunanithi said he understood that residents in Thornton Cleveleys wanted clear answers about what the presence of the forever chemical meant for their health but he urged caution.

He said the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) rapid evidence review found there was currently not enough evidence to determine whether long-term PFAS exposure from industrial or manufacturing sites caused adverse health effects in nearby communities.

Karunanithi told BBC Radio Lancashire: "We just need to be really cautious about interpreting these blood results on their own.

"I am concerned that some residents have been offered blood tests that cannot show where the exposure occurred, whether PFAS has caused a health condition or what their future health risk may be.

"PFAS bio-monitoring is not recommended through the NHS or private blood tests."

He warned people not to rush into taking alternative therapies.

"We are also concerned that people may have been advised to consider intrusive therapies to reduce PFAS levels," he said.

"Evidence that these interventions improve health outcomes remains uncertain, and should not be pursued without specialist clinical advice and oversight."

He said: "We are working with local and national experts to review the best evidence available, share information openly and update the health advice."

Anyone who has any new persistent or worsening symptoms is urged to seek medical advice as they normally would do via their GP or NHS 111.

Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) was used at the former ICI site from the 1950s.

AGC Chemicals Europe, which now owns and operate part of the former ICI site, stopped using the PFOAs in 2012.

It has previously said its "highest priority" was supporting the community.

Health officials have called for more research to determine the potential health impacts of exposure to forever chemicals.

The UKHSA said PFAS biomonitoring was not currently recommended through the NHS or private blood tests, but it was "developing capabilities" as an agency to examine human exposure to PFAS by analysing blood and urine samples.

It said that "most people in the UK are likely to have measurable levels of PFAS in the blood" as it is "widespread", with exposure coming from food, drinking water, air and everyday products.

It stressed that PFAS blood testing "cannot be used to predict future health problems or determine the cause of any existing ill health, and there is no evidence that reducing PFAS in the body on an individual basis will improve health outcomes".

Using a wider range of studies, it said, "would strengthen understanding of the potential health effects" and "reduce remaining uncertainties".

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