Residents of Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire, are living with uncertainty and fear after a government-commissioned study revealed higher-than-expected rates of kidney cancer near the AGC Chemicals Europe plant. The facility emitted an estimated 49 tonnes of the carcinogenic chemical Pfoa (perfluorooctanoic acid) between the 1950s and 2012. Pfoa, a type of PFAS or 'forever chemical,' has been linked to kidney cancer in international research. The study, released last month, found no evidence of a cancer cluster or environmental association for the elevated rates, but experts say further investigation, including blood testing, is needed.
Personal Stories of Impact
Liz Hurst, now 47, was diagnosed with kidney cancer at age 32. She lived near the factory until recently. 'Everything I wanted was finally coming to fruition. A house, a change of job and getting married. But then all of a sudden, everything was put on hold,' she said. Hurst recalls 'cloud burst drills' at her primary school for chemical spills and working in the factory's labs as a student. AGC Chemicals Europe says it was not involved in those drills. Hurst has been cancer-free since 2019 after kidney removal, but she wants to know if the contamination caused her cancer.
Contamination Findings and Actions
In 2024, Wyre Council and the Environment Agency (EA) began investigating historical emissions from the site. Soil and local produce testing revealed widespread Pfoa contamination. Residents were advised not to eat eggs laid within 1km of the factory and to wash and peel homegrown produce. Alan Hodson, 61, who had an allotment bordering the site, found his beetroot contained the highest Pfoa level among tested products. One soil sample was seven times Belgium's guideline level for Pfoa. The EA recommended classifying the allotment as contaminated land, and the council plans to close it. 'It's like I've got a lead pair of wellies on. I've not been sleeping,' Hodson said.
Family at Risk
Sam Hammond, 48, lives next to the allotment with her five children. Her garden soil had 40 times the Belgian guideline level for Pfoa. One of her duck eggs contained so much Pfoa that eating one egg per week would exceed the European safe weekly level by 10 times. She and her children have eaten these eggs daily for years. 'I just think it's disgusting that we've been left in limbo like this. I've increased my mental health medication,' Hammond said.
Legal and Regulatory Response
Wyre Council said all agencies are committed to transparency, and the EA plans to contact residents once formal conclusions are reached. A spokesperson said: 'We are working closely with our partner agencies to ensure the process moves forward as quickly as possible.' The law firm Leigh Day has written to AGC Chemicals Europe investigating a claim on behalf of Hammond for loss of enjoyment and potential personal injuries. Over 90 residents have indicated interest in legal action, and 50 have taken blood tests. In the US, PFAS contamination has led to billion-dollar settlements. In Europe, ClientEarth filed a complaint against Belgium over PFAS pollution in July 2024.
Company Statement
A spokesperson for AGC Chemicals Europe said: 'We take our responsibilities to our employees, our local community and the environment very seriously. The multi-agency Health Cell report concluded that there was no evidence of a statistically significant kidney cancer cluster, no clustering of cases close to the current AGC Chemicals Europe Ltd site, and no indication of a link to environmental levels.'
Community Anger and Uncertainty
Hurst expressed her frustration: 'I want as many people around the area to know about it, so that they can get the healthcare that they need. I'm just angry.' As regulators analyse data and decide next steps, residents continue to live in the shadow of the factory, grappling with health fears and disrupted lives.
