DOZENS of Islanders have been found to have high levels of potentially toxic chemicals in their blood after drinking water from polluted boreholes.
Run-off from the Airport firefighting training ground is known to have contaminated nearby water sources and others in St Ouen’s Bay with the now-banned chemical PFOS, which is part of the PFAS family.
A testing programme, which has cost the government around £100,000 so far, was set up to allow concerned Islanders from properties in the area to have their blood checked for PFAS.
Peter Bradley, director of Public Health, said that 72 people had been tested and that a ‘reasonable’ number of those had higher than average PFAS levels in their systems.
However, he added that it was not yet possible to determine the potential health implications due to a lack of international evidence around the substance.
A new Scientific Advisory Panel will be set up to advise those affected on what to do next. Affected Islanders will also be invited to meet senior government ministers and officials to discuss the findings.
PFAS is a group of man-made chemicals used in numerous industries and consumer products. Some jurisdictions have moved to ban their use owing to concerns over their impact on human health.
The group of chemicals have been found in water sources across Jersey at very low levels, well below the international safety level.
However, higher levels have been recorded in some pockets of the Island, including in a stream near the Airport and boreholes around St Ouen’s Bay.
The boreholes were found to have been contaminated by run-off from the Airport firefighting training ground, where foam using PFOS was used between 1991 and 2006.
The use of PFOS is now banned and the homes in that area are all now on mains water.
A total of 76 properties were identified as being in the contaminated ‘plume’ area with groundwater at 36 properties testing positive for the substance above the recognised threshold.
Mr Bradley said: ‘I can’t answer what it means for health as there is not enough international evidence to determine the health impact. It is unclear how we interpret these results, but it gives people that information.
‘It confirms residents’ suspicions and it allows them to monitor their levels over time. On a personal level that is very important.’
Mr Bradley said it was not possible to determine the exact number of Islanders with higher levels of PFAS in their blood due to the complexity of the testing process. He did say that a ‘reasonable proportion’ of those tested had higher levels.
‘Setting up the Scientific Advisory Panel is entirely possible from a budget point of view and although we don’t have an exact time scale, we want it set up as soon as we can. The panel will decide what we can do in the longer term and could advise on whether we would need any more testing,’ he said.
‘In the immediate future, we have co-ordinated with GPs who are aware of the issues around PFAS and they will be able to support any individuals who need help interpreting their results.
‘We know that this is slightly distressing for some and so we have organised support through the Listening Lounge too,’ he added.
He explained that there were no plans to test Islanders outside of the original eligible zone.
But he added that those who were tested will meet government officials, including the Health Minister and the Chief Minister, in the coming days.
Health Minister Karen Wilson said: ‘We are going to start a PFAS and Health scientific panel, which will include international academics. They will conduct an annual review of the evidence around PFAS, the health effects and interventions to reduce PFAS in the blood and will make recommendations to government. They will also be asked to advise government on the most appropriate ways for us to undertake retesting and at what frequency this should be conducted moving forward.’
