by The UK government needs to tackle the scale of “forever chemicals” polluting rivers and seas and endangering human and animal health, Green MP Caroline Lucas has said.
The Guardian has revealed that a major mapping project found high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), known as perpetual chemicals, in thousands of sites across the UK and Europe.
The map shows that drinking water sources in the UK have been contaminated with PFAS. Water companies say contaminants do not end up in the final tap water because they are mixed with another source to dilute the chemicals or go through a specialized treatment process for removal.
But Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, said: “A cocktail of toxic, persistent chemicals is polluting our rivers and seas, infecting our food and water supplies and posing a serious threat to human, marine and animal health. However, UK chemical pollution limits are far from international standards, and water companies say mixing chemicals with other sources to dilute pollutants simply won’t wash away.
“The government must urgently tackle this chemical crisis and adopt tougher regulations now.”