WHO classes chemical in drinking water as carcinogenic

Defra states that drinking water quality in England is “exceptionally high” and that government continues to assess levels of PFAS in the environment

A ‘forever chemical’ found in English water samples has been categorised as carcinogenic by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) has long been linked to cancer but has now been classified as “category one” or “carcinogenic to humans”, according to the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer.

PFOA – one of thousands of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – is used in a wide range of products. PFOA and another member of the family, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), have largely been banned but remain in the environment because of their persistence. 

The news comes as an analysis of Environment Agency and water company data by Watershed Investigations shows that PFOA was detected in almost 1,000 drinking water sources sampled between 2006 and 2022. The highest concentration of PFOA was 149 nanograms a litre (ng/l), 1.5 times the DWI’s maximum limit for tap water.

Ann Bunting, Principal Inspector at the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) said that analytical methods are increasingly able to detect ever smaller traces of substances. “Neither our drinking water sources nor supplies are commonly contaminated by PFOA,” she said.

“In England and Wales, we have adopted a risk-based approach and put in place monitoring and a guideline value for PFOA based on the balance current scientific information. This means that all drinking water supplies are assessed for risk and action taken where appropriate to remove any risk to consumers.”

Bunting’s views were echoed by a Defra spokesperson who said: “Drinking water quality in England is of an exceptionally high standard. Work is continuing across government to help us assess levels of PFAS occurring in the environment, their sources and potential risks to inform future policy and regulatory approaches.”

“…without intervention, [PFAS] will continue to build-up in our homes, our bodies, in wildlife and in the environment, impacting generations to come.”

However, campaigners remain concerned. Hannah Evans, Senior Project Officer at environmental charity, Fidra said: “These findings reinforce the need for a swift and effective transition to a PFAS-free economy.”

She added: “There is a growing body of evidence of the harmful health and environmental implications of PFAS and, without intervention, they will continue to build-up in our homes, our bodies, in wildlife and in the environment, impacting generations to come.”

David Carr, Lead Scientific Officer, Environmental and Community Protection at Dacorum Borough Council in Hertfordshire told EHN Extra that the Environment Agency is continuing to work on different fronts. This includes liaising with the DWI and making its monitoring data available online via open data on gov.uk. It is also working with local authorities that have identified a PFAS/PFOA issue in their area.  

Carr said: “The overarching issue is whether the drinking water standards in place are set appropriately and whether there are the necessary resources to deal with the current situation.

“For Environmental Health Practitioners with responsibility for managing private drinking water supplies and dealing with land contamination, the PFAS family of ‘forever chemicals’ is of continuing concern.

“The risk remains that the UK is falling behind other comparable countries and that this could leave environmental health professionals and regulators without sufficient information, support, or environmental standards to be confident that the environment and public health is being protected adequately.”

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