Prøve GULL - Gratis

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

The Guardian

|

July 12, 2025

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

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

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.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA The Guardian

The Guardian

Top-flight clubs turn to hidden gambling partners to beat ban

Aston Villa, Chelsea, Leeds and Nottingham Forest fail to respond and Sunderland refuse to comment

time to read

4 mins

October 15, 2025

The Guardian

UK must get ready for 2C global heating, warn climate advisers

Britain must prepare for global heating far in excess of the level scientists have pegged as the limit of safety, the government's climate advisers have warned.

time to read

1 mins

October 15, 2025

The Guardian

Stop basing women's trainers on men's feet, say experts

Sportswear companies are being urged to ditch their “shrink it and pink it” approach when it comes to women's running shoes.

time to read

2 mins

October 15, 2025

The Guardian

Man jailed for five years over threat to kill Nigel Farage

A man who threatened on TikTok to kill the Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, has been jailed for five years.

time to read

1 mins

October 15, 2025

The Guardian

Gordon and Kane set up England's Atlantic crossing

It was the night when England confirmed the inevitable. Thomas Tuchel and his players are going to the World Cup finals tournament next summer as the winners of qualifying Group K, their progress serene, their record - with two ties still to tick off next moth without blemish.

time to read

1 mins

October 15, 2025

The Guardian

The Guardian

From proms to sumo

Royal Albert Hall hosts star wrestlers in London for first time in three decades

time to read

4 mins

October 15, 2025

The Guardian

The Guardian

Families of dead hostages urge US 'to pull out every stop' to find them

The families of the missing dead Israeli hostages have written to the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to urge him to \"pull out every stop\" in forcing Hamas to bring their relatives' bodies home from Gaza.

time to read

2 mins

October 15, 2025

The Guardian

Tesco boosts market share as rival Asda struggles

Tesco has grabbed a bigger slice of Britons' supermarket shopping, as it stepped up sales and market share, while its rival Asda continued to struggle amid rising grocery inflation.

time to read

1 mins

October 15, 2025

The Guardian

Pupils concerned AI is harming ability to learn, research finds

Pupils fear that using AI is eroding their ability to study, with many complaining it makes schoolwork \"too easy\", limits creativity and stops them learning new skills, according to research.

time to read

2 mins

October 15, 2025

The Guardian

DNA test 'proved alleged stalker is not Madeleine McCann'

An alleged stalker who claimed to be Madeleine McCann was ruled out after a secret DNA test proved conclusively she was not the missing girl, police revealed in court yesterday.

time to read

1 min

October 15, 2025

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size