The move will increase pressure on the UK government to take action on "forever chemicals".
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is one of 10,000 or so chemicals within the family of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) used in products from cosmetics to clothing and food packaging, as well as in industrial processes and firefighting foams.
Studies have linked PFAS to cancers, immunodeficiencies, reproductive harms and developmental effects in children. They build up in humans and animals over time.
PFOA has been linked to cancer for some time, but a growing body of evidence means it has been upgraded to "category one", which means it is "carcinogenic to humans", according to the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer.
A report from the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) found almost 12,000 samples from drinking water sources contained at least one PFAS.
The highest concentration of PFOA detected in a drinking water source was 149 nanograms a litre (ng/l), 1.5 times the DWI's limit for tap water.
This story is from the December 02, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the December 02, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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