The Royal Society of Chemistry is calling on the UK government to overhaul its drinking water standards, following new analysis which reveals that more than a third of the country’s water courses contain harmful PFAS.
PFAS (perfluoroakl and polyfluoralkyl) is a group of synthetic chemicals which have been linked to a range of health issues, including fertility issues and some cancers.
Current drinking water regulations in England and Wales require water companies to make sure the quantity of PFAs does not exceed 100 nanograms per litre, but according to the Royal Society of Chemistry it should be ten times lower at 10 nanograms per litre.
PFAS contamination is most likely at water sites near airports, military sites, and fire training areas. It is also common near industrial facilities which produce PFAS and wastewater treatment plants that produce effluent and sludge contaminated with the chemicals.
All our water should be safe – but our analysis shows that a third of water courses tested in the UK contain medium/high-risk levels of #ForeverChemicals called #PFAS. Write to your MP to #CleanUpPFAS and lower the risk of health conditions such as cancer https://t.co/ILr31qRcbJ pic.twitter.com/GKOhZ3Pl8a
— Royal Society of Chemistry (@RoySocChem) October 18, 2023
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The organisation has also shared an open access map which shows the locations with the highest levels of PFAS, with the River Thames and the Wyre Plant Discharge Trade Effluent.
Speaking to BBC news, RSC policy adviser Stephanie Metzger said: “Previous health guidelines showed that 100 nanograms per litre [of PFAS] was protective of human health”
“But there has been more research going over the years that has shown that perhaps effects to human health may occur at lower levels”.
The RSC recommendations come amid much criticism of water companies including Thames Water for failing to do enough to tackle sewage leakages.
Thames Water’s former CEO quit in July after an FOI request by The Guardian revealed that the water company had reported the highest rate of sewage leakages in five years.