UK: Egg contamination warning near chemical plant
Residents living close to a Lancashire chemical plant have been advised to avoid eating domestically produced eggs after raised levels of a potentially cancer-causing substance were found.
The precautionary advice is linked to an investigation into historic contamination from part of the former ICI site, which is now run by AGC Chemicals Europe Ltd, within the Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone in Thornton-Cleveleys.
Wyre Council said the investigation concerns the chemical Perfluorooctanoic Acid – or PFOA – which is a member of a family of chemicals referred to as Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). PFOA was used on the site between 1950 and 2012 as part of the manufacturing process and released into the air.
Sampling eggs and confirming elevated levels
Scientists have sampled eggs collected from a small number of domestic poultry keepers within 1km of the Hillhouse site to see whether they contain PFAS chemicals. The results have confirmed that PFAS levels in the eggs are elevated – primarily PFOA and PFOA – at levels above the recommended Tolerable Weekly Intake (TWI) threshold set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
The government’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has carried out a risk assessment, with support from the Animal and Plant Health Agency. The FSA said that eating just 1 of the eggs could reach or go over the EFSA safe weekly limit. This risk increases further when PFAS that may be found in other foods are taken into consideration.
Keep eggs from within 1 km out the food chain
The FSA said people living within 1 km of the Hillhouse site should not consume home-produced eggs. In additional, birds kept for egg laying within 1 km of the Hillhouse site should not enter the food chain.
A spokesperson for the multi-agency group conducting the investigation, led by Wyre Council and carried out by the Environment Agency, said: “The risk assessment undertaken by the FSA has concluded that certain PFAS – notably PFOA – are present in the eggs sampled at a level that could increase the risk to human health.”
The spokesperson added: “We have been in touch with the poultry keepers and will write to all households within 1 km of the Hillhouse site to share the FSA advice. We will continue to liaise closely with the FSA on this matter. We understand this news is likely to cause concern in the community, but we would reassure people that the advice is issued on a precautionary basis to protect public health.”
AGC Chemicals Europe, which took over part of the ICI plant, said it stopped using PFOA in 2012, and that 40 years of monitoring showed “no significant impact” from emissions. The BBC reported that the company said it “had never used or manufactured PFOS”.
PFAS action plan
Pressure group CHEM Trust said the UK government had recently release its PFAS action plan, which sets how it intends to address PFAS. But the group claimed the plan did not address the PFAS pollution crisis, leaving people, wildlife and the environment in the UK at risk of continued exposure.
In comparison, it said the EU was bringing forward a strong approach to regulate all 10,000 PFAS at source, while France and Denmark had already introduced national bans on PFAS in certain products.
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