CBRN event in United States of America on Mon 10th August 2026

Dozens of residents have undergone blood tests to see if they have been poisoned by ‘forever chemicals’ after eating fruit and veg from their own gardens. A total of 56 people at Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancs, are being tested for traces of toxins from a nearby chemical plant which they say have contaminated their homes. It comes as hundreds of households within a one kilometre radius of the former ICI plant were previously warned their gardens could be contaminated with PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic Acid). PFOA – part of the PFAS (Per- and Poly-Fluorinated Substances) family also known as “forever chemicals” – is known to accumulate in blood and can cause cancer, immune system disorders, as well as high, bad cholesterol. Tests have shown that the chemical – often used to coat non-stick pans – has been found in the soil of 71 properties surrounding the plant. Scores of furious residents are now taking part in legal action alongside environmental legal firm Leigh Day to understand the extent of the “scale of the situation” and how it may be affecting them. One of those involved is Andrew Molloy, 46, whose back garden sits on the southwestern fence line of the factory and had grown strawberries and herbs in his garden which he had regularly eaten. The operations manager, who has lived in the area since aged 4 but moved into his house three years ago, said: “We are being told to try not to worry about it. “But if it is something not to worry about then I feel there is not enough being done by the investigating bodies to discern that. “It is frighting and I just want to know how the community is affected which is why I got involved with the blood testing.” ‘I just want to know’ Residents were previously told neither the National Health Service or Wyre Council would fund PFAS blood test. But according to Andrew he is “shocked” they were not completed “out of precaution” which he says is “not looking after the public”. He said: “I want to get my results and go to my GP and see what correlation there is to any existing health issues I have. “I also worry for my friends and family who have also been affected. “I understand having blood tests can cause panic, but in my opinion it has to be done for situation to be properly understood. “For me it is not about legal action I just want the information as proof and then if my blood levels are elevated, then I will walk across that bridge and try to find solutions. “If levels are consistently raised I want proper mediation to start to get this mess sorted and then bodies to deal with any health conditions that may have been caused or attributed too.” Andrews mum and dad, Barbara Jo Molloy, 75, and James Richard Molloy, 72, live a kilometre west from the factory and have also been invited to have there blood tested. Barbara, a retired hypnopsychotherapist, said: “I feel sick at the thought of pollution being in mine and my families blood stream. “I do think the blood tests are necessary but not the whole story. “I would like the factory to do the right thing and clear up any contamination and do the best they can to compensate and help, in any way needed, people who have been impacted. “I hope the results will start the interest in further research.” James, a retired fire engineer and safety management consultant in the UK nuclear industry, said he hopes the testing “will show what the contamination has done to the local food chain and how far (geographically) the effect is”. Decades of contamination A multi-agency investigation, including the council and the Environment Agency (EA), into the contamination by PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic Acid) from the ICI site in the Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone was launched in 2024. PFOA is in the same family as PFAS (Per- and Poly-Fluorinated Substances) also known as “forever chemicals”. According to charity CHEM Trust, almost everyone has chemicals from the PFAS family in their body, however high levels pose serious health risks. The investigation came after EA obtained information indicating historic emissions of PFOA from the ICI site, which is now AGC Chemicals Europe Ltd. It is believed the ICI factory had been pumping PFOA into the air from the 1950s, up until 2012 when it was phased out. At the time, the substance was in line with UK legislation – but it was later classified as a carcinogenic (cancer-causing). In 2024, the council sent letters to residents warning them not to eat anything from their ground. Though initial guidance given was to wash and peel any produce they are growing to remove any potentially contaminated soil or dust. Three phases of soil testing to determine the level of risk have since been conducted. Last year it was revealed that all allotment soil samples near the site reported detectable PFOA concentrations, with a maximum of 20.2µg/kg and an average of 5.92µg/kg. This greatly exceeds the precautionary screening value of 1.4µg/kg by almost five times. Further samples were taken from 63 locations within 500m of the AGC facility, including gardens. Of the 291 soil samples obtained 287 (99%) indicating elevated PFOA with a maximum value of 144µg/kg (average 4.18µg/kg), compared to a screening threshold of 7.6ug/kg for gardens where vegetables are grown. The summary states that “the results paint a picture of sporadic contamination, indicating zones of ‘higher’ and ‘lower’ risk”. So far soil samples from 71 properties showed the presence of PFOA near the site though some of the properties affected have been built on parts of the old ICI location. ‘We just want answers’ While no action was deemed necessary in the majority of cases, seven “high risk” properties required further investigation one of which belong to mum-of-four Sam Linacre-Hammond. The 48-year-old has also had her blood taken alongside her son Lazarus Hammond, 20, which she described as “extremely distressing”. She said: “Having to have our blood tested to establish if we are full of carcinogenic toxins form the “organic” foods we consumed over the years wasn’t something we had envisaged. “We just want answers now.” Sam has previously told how she actively grew fruit and vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, and strawberries, as well as homed hens, and ducks that laid eggs which her family ate for over a decade. They were sown on an eighth-of-an-acre piece of land next door to her house – which sits around 400 metres from the former Thornton ICI plant – which she bought from Wyre Council in 2011. Earlier this year, Wyre Council said scientists sampled eggs from a small number of domestic poultry keepers within 0.6 miles (1km) of the former ICI site. The Food Standards Agency told Sam that eating just one of her duck eggs would go over the safe weekly limit – though she revealed she stopped eating them a year ago when she was first warned. Sam suffered a cryptogenic – or unexplained – stroke in 2020, which she puts down to the consumption of toxic food and also said she “feels guilty” for unknowingly “poisoning” her children with toxic food. Two allotments used to grow veg by locals have since been closed on Occupation Road and Sandringham Avenue. According to the Wyre Council no other areas of land apart these two in either public or private ownership, have been designated as contaminated under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. This is the legislation that establishes a legal framework for dealing with contaminated land in England, according to the government. Wyre Council has constantly said that it is supporting residents affected by the pollution. Leigh Day partner Sarah Moore said: “The Leigh Day team continue to progress the investigation of this matter with a programme of PFAS blood testing for residents of Thornton Cleveleys over the summer. “We are keen to provide access to specialist testing that other local services have been unable or unwilling to provide. “We consider that access to this information will enable local people to better understand the implications of PFAS exposure for their health, as individuals. “Local authorities have suggested that provision of such testing will only serve to increase anxiety. “However, this does not reflect the feedback from locals who have sought access to testing, with many indicating that they’d rather know than be left in the dark.” The confirmed the results will be made available to those tested during “autumn this year”. Last month AGC Chemicals Europe announced that it is “consulting with employees and their representatives” about a proposal to “cease operations” at its manufacturing plant at the Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone. Chiefs explained that “no final decision” has been made and it comes as the site has generated a loss for “the past four years”. Why blood tests aren’t recommended A spokesperson for the multi-agency response said: “Human biomonitoring is a way of measuring chemicals in the body by testing samples such as blood or urine. “For substances like PFAS that are widespread in the environment, test results reflect exposure from many different sources, including food, drinking water, air and everyday products. “Thus, most people in the UK are likely to have measurable levels of PFAS in the blood, but it is not possible to tell where the exposure came from. PFAS blood testing also cannot be used to predict future health problems. “For these reasons, PFAS biomonitoring is not currently recommended through the NHS or private blood tests. “At this time, such tests are unlikely to provide clear information for individuals and can sometimes create unnecessary worry.” AGC Chemicals Europe have been approached for a comment.