Toxic chemicals above proposed safety limits in almost all English waters tested

Nearly all rivers, lakes and ponds in England tested for a range of PFAS, known as "forever chemicals," exceed proposed new safety limits and 85% contain levels at least five times higher, analysis of official data reveals.

- Rachel Salvidge

Out of 117 water bodies tested by the Environment Agency for PFAS, 110 would fail the safety standard, according to analysis by Wildlife and Countryside Link and the Rivers Trust.

They also found levels of PFOS - a banned carcinogenic PFAS - in fish were on average 322 times higher than planned limits for wildlife. If just one portion of such freshwater fish was eaten each month this would exceed the safe threshold of PFOS for people to consume over a year, according to the NGOs.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of thousands of synthetic chemicals used in industrial processes and products such as non-stick pans, clothing and firefighting foams. They do not break down in the environment and some are linked to diseases, including cancers and hormone disruption.