A CHEMICALS manufacturing plant based in Lancashire is to shut down amid a damning investigation into its historic emissions of “forever chemicals”, or PFAS.
AGC Chemicals, which operates the Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone in Thornton-Cleveleys, has proposed closing the site after facing potential legal action from dozens of residents over the contamination of their drinking water, soil and food by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).
A recent parliamentary PFAS report has pushed for more monitoring of PFAS contamination in the UK and further alignment with the EU REACH framework, which looks to ban the production of more than 10,000 PFAS chemicals by 2029.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies PFOA as a Group 1 carcinogenic chemical. Restrictions on PFOA production have been developing in the UK since 2020.
The Hillhouse site phased out the use of PFOA in 2012, but investigations led by the Environment Agency and Wyre Council have found that between the 1950s and 2012 the site had emitted 49 t of the chemical.
AGC Chemicals said the site had experienced “significant financial and operational challenges”, and had been making a loss for the past four years.
The company said: “AGC Chemicals Europe Ltd takes its responsibilities to protect employees, the local community and the environment very seriously.
“If a decision is taken to cease manufacture, AGC Chemicals Europe Ltd remains committed to ensuring compliance with all regulatory obligations, including maintaining the necessary staff for environmental permit compliance and any environmental monitoring that may be required.”
AGC develops chemicals for coatings, additives and solvents for a range of industries including aerospace, electronics and automotive. The company historically used PFOA as an additive in its manufacturing.
Sign from sampling
The Environment Agency (EA) began its investigation into Hillhouse in 2024 after it found evidence of historic emissions at the site. Several investigations under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 into the soil, groundwater and surface water found high concentrations of PFOA contamination.
In an earlier investigation, the EA found the presence of PFOA in 94% of its tested soil samples, with concentrations reported at 35.1 µg/kg. With more sampling, the EA has confirmed that multiple sites in Thornton-Cleveley are contaminated and is working with Wyre Council to remediate those sites.
Human impact
PFAS contamination has been linked to several negative impacts across Thornton-Cleveley.
Wyre Council confirmed that PFOA had been detected in the majority of properties tested in the area, with residents being told not eat fruit, vegetables or livestock grown in the area.
The firm is currently pursuing a potential legal claim against AGC Chemicals on behalf of Sam Hammond, whose pet ducks’ eggs are contaminated with PFOA.
Hammond told the BBC: “I have five children and they’re all neurodiverse. With them having difficulties I wanted a safe environment where they could play and now I just feel like I’ve trapped them in some toxic town.
“In 20 years’ time are we going to be testing again to see what else I’ve been poisoned with?”
Further investigation
Wyre Council has confirmed that further areas of the region will be tested under Part 2A.
The council has advised Thornton-Cleveleys residents to continue to follow the Food Standards Agency’s advice for residents living 1 km from the Hillhouse site.This includes washing and cleaning home-grown produce to remove soil, dust and bacteria.