Residents previously asked the council to test their blood for the chemical. But according to the UK Health Security Agency, PFAS monitoring is not currently recommended because “tests are unlikely to provide clear information for individuals”.
Instead independent tests were offered by Manchester Metropolitan University, paid for by investigative journalists Watershed and Law for Change – which funds cases covering environmental issues.
Forty-nine residents volunteered, and they were told their blood test readings on Wednesday.
Andrew Molloy found out he was in the highest-risk category.
“I was half expecting it to be just normal,” he said. “Because the investigation here has all been focused on – you’re only really being at risk if you eat fruit and veg from the garden or grow your own eggs – which I don’t.”
Andrew’s home was built on land that used to be part of the factory. He underwent the tests because he was worried about persistent health problems in his family.
“One of the first things I’m going to do is take [the results] to my GP and at least get it on my record. They seem to refuse to do anything related to this, but now I have hard information and data,” he said.
Mario Panteli, who was visibly shaken by his results, which were among the highest, said it was “quite emotional, a shock”. He added: “I bought a property, assuming that this is our forever home. I’m going to have to stop my children from going in the garden, front and back. I feel constricted, like I’m in a cage now.”
Dr David Megson, who carried out the testing at Manchester Metropolitan University, said the results made him feel sick.
“To me, it shows something seriously wrong has happened to that community in that area, that the levels were far higher than anything we would have ever expected to see in the general population.”