Government urged to step in as seven in ten residents near Lancashire chemical factory test positive for cancer-linked 'forever chemicals'

From the Newshound archive · first published 23 September 2026 · last updated 25 September 2026.

Wyre Council leader Michael Vincent has demanded a designated government minister take control of PFOA contamination in Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire, warning the crisis is too large for local agencies to handle alone. Independent blood tests of 49 volunteers found 70% had elevated levels of the potentially cancer-causing chemical, linked to a nearby AGC Chemicals factory that used PFOA in manufacturing until 2012. Vincent invoked the 'polluter pays' principle, demanding those responsible fund the clean-up of what he called a national crisis.

Father-of-five Mario Panteli, who has another child on the way, called his results 'shocking' and said his main concern is his children's health.

Mother-of-five Sam Hammond, 48, said: 'I think I have potentially poisoned them because I had these chemicals in my system' — her eldest son recorded the highest level in the family.

None of the 49 residents tested had PFOA levels below 2 nanograms per millilitre, and Hammond linked the contamination to her 2020 stroke and her children's health conditions.