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Forever chemicals in Solent exceed safe limits
Chemicals found in seaweeds, invertebrates, fish and marine mammals within internationally protected area of UK coast which has huge ecological value
Marine Conservation Society calls for “an urgent, universal PFAS restriction” stating that the evidence is unequivocal: “policymakers need to act.”
Some forever chemicals in the Solent exceed UK and EU safe limits by more than 13 times. One of the worst offenders is perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), a man-made chemical belonging to the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) group.
PFOS has been widely used by manufacturers as it repels water, grease and heat, but it takes thousands of years to break down and is associated with developmental issues, thyroid disruption, liver damage, kidney disease, lowered vaccine response and increased cancer risk.
The research, part of a partnership between the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) and the University of Portsmouth, tested for PFAS in the strait between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.
The study tested surface water, sediments, treated wastewater and a wide range of marine life. Harbour porpoises showed the highest PFAS concentrations, with levels in liver tissue far exceeding the regulatory ecological threshold.
Researchers found that wastewater treatment plants in Portsmouth and Fareham were releasing a wide range of PFAS into the environment in their treated effluents. They also identified 194 combined sewer overflow (CSO) outfall points and 546 historic landfill sites as potential sources of PFAS entering the coastal system.
Dr Henry Obanya, post-doctoral researcher at the University of Portsmouth and lead author of the study, said: “We found these chemicals in seaweeds, invertebrates, fish and marine mammals. The Solent is an internationally protected area with enormous ecological value and it deserves the most robust chemical monitoring we can offer.”
Professor Alex Ford from the University’s Institute of Marine Sciences said: “Current treatment processes are not designed to remove these substances effectively. Some of our whales and dolphins are still suffering from chemical contaminants we were slow to ban decades ago.
“If there was an oil spill in the Solent, industry would have to pay for the restoration of those habitats, but that doesn’t happen with sewage.”
Ford added: “This is one thing I don’t necessarily pin on water companies because they don’t have the capacity to treat these compounds.”
Dr Francesca Ginley, Chemicals Policy and Advocacy Manager at the MCS, said: “This research builds a clearer picture of how PFAS are moving through our seas, reinforcing why we are calling for an urgent, universal PFAS restriction. The evidence is clear; policymakers need to act.”
“Ministers must apply the polluter-pays principle so that chemical companies pay these costs to clean-up PFAS pollution, rather than the public paying…”
Dr Shubhi Sharma, Scientific Researcher at CHEM Trust, said: “This study demonstrates, once again, that our environment is widely polluted with these forever chemicals. It is very concerning.
“Ministers must apply the polluter-pays principle so that chemical companies pay these costs to clean-up PFAS pollution, rather than the public paying through their water bills.
“However, focusing solely on cleaning up PFAS pollution is a very expensive sticking plaster. What we really need is to turn off PFAS pollution at the source by stopping the production and use of these chemicals. The UK government must introduce a comprehensive PFAS ban to prevent them from entering the environment in the first place.”
A spokesperson for Southern Water said: “Tackling the presence of these chemicals is a challenge for society as a whole. The most sustainable solution is to meet the problem at source.”
