Health Information

Key Points

  • What we know: Scientists have found links between PFAS exposure and certain cancers and other health conditions
  • Local cancer rates: Cancer prevalence in Thornton-Cleveleys is reported to be above the national average, but we don't yet know whether PFAS from Hillhouse is a contributing factor
  • Testing: The NHS does not currently offer PFAS blood testing. No biomonitoring (blood and urine testing to check for chemicals in the body) programme has been set up for local residents

PFAS-Associated Health Conditions

Scientists have studied large groups of people exposed to PFAS over many years. They found that PFAS exposure is linked to the following health conditions. These are patterns found across populations — they do not mean everyone exposed will develop these conditions.

Cancer:

  • Testicular cancer
  • Kidney cancer

PFOA classified as Group 1 carcinogen ("carcinogenic to humans") by WHO/IARC, November 2023

Developmental Effects:

  • Developmental effects in exposed populations
  • Low birth weight associations

Immune System:

  • Reduced vaccine response
  • Increased infection susceptibility
  • Altered immune function

Other Associations:

  • Thyroid disease
  • Reduced fertility
  • High cholesterol
  • Hypertension
  • Liver effects
  • Ulcerative colitis (a bowel disease)

Important: These are patterns found in large research studies. They cannot be used to diagnose whether any specific health condition was caused by PFAS exposure. Individual health risk depends on exposure level, duration, and personal factors.

Sources: WHO/IARC Monograph 135, November 2023; EFSA Scientific Opinion on PFAS, September 2020; C8 Science Panel probable link findings

Local Cancer Prevalence Data

Important caveats — read before interpreting these figures

  • This data comes from NHS figures compiled by the Ribble Rivers Trust and reported by BBC News — it is third-hand data
  • We do not know whether it has been adjusted for the age of the local population (older populations naturally have higher cancer rates, and Thornton-Cleveleys has an older demographic profile)
  • Cancer rates are affected by many factors — including population age, levels of deprivation, and lifestyle
  • No study has specifically examined whether PFAS from the Hillhouse estate is linked to local cancer rates
  • The Hillhouse estate has had multiple operators over decades. Any environmental contribution to health — if present — could not be attributed to a single source without specific investigation

This is an information gap: Ward-level cancer incidence data that accounts for age and other factors has not been published for this area.

The BBC reported that NHS data compiled by the Ribble Rivers Trust showed cancer prevalence in Thornton ward and Cleveleys ward was around 35–43% above the national average (2021 figures). However, the BBC article does not publish the underlying ward-level prevalence figures, and the original NHS dataset has not been directly cited in reporting. Without the standardised incidence rates, it is not possible to assess whether age or other factors account for this difference. We have not been able to independently verify the original dataset.

Source: BBC News, 30 June 2025 — reporting NHS data via Ribble Rivers Trust (2021 figures)

Blood Testing and Biomonitoring

The NHS does not currently offer PFAS blood testing as a routine service. No biomonitoring programme (blood and urine testing to measure chemical levels in the body) has been set up for residents of the Thornton-Cleveleys area.

International comparison: At other PFAS-contaminated sites, authorities set up population biomonitoring programmes:

  • Belgium (3M Zwijndrecht): Population-wide blood testing offered to affected residents
  • USA (Parkersburg): C8 Health Project provided blood testing to 69,030 participants
  • Netherlands (Chemours Dordrecht): Ongoing biomonitoring programme established

Private PFAS blood testing is available through some commercial laboratories (costs vary; consult laboratories directly). Results may be difficult to interpret without population baseline data for comparison.

The leader of Wyre Council publicly called for PFAS blood testing for residents and a "proper inquiry" into local health, describing the council as having been "hung out to dry" by central government (ENDS Report, 3 March 2026).

Three days later, on 6 March 2026, Wyre Council formally responded to an FOI request asking why biomonitoring had not been conducted. The council's response stated that blood testing would be "not appropriate," that results would be "uninterpretable," and that it would cause "additional distress" to residents. Source: WhatDoTheyKnow.com — Wyre Council FOI, 6 March 2026.

This produces a documented divergence: the elected leader of the council publicly called for blood tests on 3 March; the council's formal stated position, as of 6 March, declined biomonitoring on the grounds stated above. Whether these positions were coordinated, and which reflects current council policy, is not established in available documents.

Information gaps in health monitoring

The following health-related information is not currently available for the area surrounding the Hillhouse estate:

  • Population biomonitoring: No programme has been established to measure PFAS levels in residents' blood or urine. Without this, there is no data on actual exposure levels in the local population.
  • Health outcome comparison: No study has compared rates of PFAS-associated conditions (thyroid disease, immune disorders, reproductive issues, specific cancers) in the local population against regional or national baselines.
  • Exposure pathway assessment: Air inhalation, drinking water, dust ingestion, skin contact, and indoor air from soil vapour have not been assessed. The current investigation focuses only on the soil-to-vegetables pathway.
  • Baseline health data: Without knowing what PFAS levels are in local residents, it is not possible to assess individual or community risk.
  • Historical health data: No retrospective study has examined health outcomes among current or former residents of the area over the decades of industrial activity at Hillhouse.

These gaps mean that the health impact of PFAS contamination from the Hillhouse estate — if any — is currently unknown. This is not the same as saying there is no impact. It means the question has not been adequately investigated — or if it has, the results have not been made publicly accessible in sources we've been able to find. If you are aware of studies or data that address any of these gaps, please get in touch.

Medical Records and GP Consultation

Residents with health concerns may wish to consult their GP. The NHS does not currently offer PFAS blood testing.

Residents may consider discussing:

  • Recording your residential address and length of residence in medical records
  • Documenting any health concerns for future reference
  • Whether referral to environmental health or public health services may be appropriate

If public health authorities establish biomonitoring programmes in affected areas in future, documented residence and health history may be relevant.

Note: This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified medical professional for health concerns.