'Huge volumes' of toxic and cancer-causing chemicals found in River Mersey

A new study has found "huge volumes" of toxic and cancer-causing chemicals in the River Mersey.

These chemicals, known as per and polyfluorinated substances (PFAs), are among the highest levels in the world. PFAs, sometimes called forever chemicals, can take thousands of years to break down and are harmful to people and river ecosystems.

Dr Patrick Byrne, a reader in Hydrology and Environmental Pollution at Liverpool John Moores University, shared his worrying research findings in The Conversation.

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He said: "My team of hydrologists and I found that levels of two cancer-causing PFAS washing off the land and into the Mersey perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are among the highest in the world. Both PFOS and PFOA, now banned in most countries, were used to make many consumer and industrial products including furniture, cookware and fire-fighting foams."

Dr Byrne's study discovered that about 50% of PFOs - a type of PFAS that's classed as probably carcinogenic - in the River Mersey came from clean water discharges from 44 different wastewater treatment works. He explained that PFAs are found in treated water because they are very difficult to remove using current treatment technologies.

The team's research shows that the sources of the other 50% of PFOs are unknown. They could be coming from airports, agricultural land or landfills, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Dr Byrne explained: "PFAS chemicals are all around us and impossible to avoid. Found in everything from food packaging to cosmetic products, they are also used to manufacture green energy technologies like electric cars and wind turbines.

"Whenever PFAS are used to