London tap water contaminated by ‘forever’ chemicals

London’s tap water has been found to contain harmful "forever" chemicals, specifically PFOA and PFOS, which pose serious health risks. Samples from Harrow, Heathrow, and Battersea revealed contamination levels exceeding safety limits, with PFOS in Harrow reaching 1.4 times the Royal Society of Chemistry's (RSC) proposed limit. These chemicals are linked to cancer, liver damage, reduced fertility, and birth defects. In all samples, PFAS levels surpassed Sweden’s safety limits by 550%.

Experts, including Bluewater’s Dr. Ahmed Fawzy, raised concerns about the health risks, urging tighter regulations. Currently, Britain’s PFAS thresholds are seen as outdated and lenient compared to the US and EU. PFAS, found in products like non-stick pans and cosmetics, persist in the environment and are difficult to remove from water, although filtration technology exists. The RSC has called for stricter standards to protect public health, stressing that current levels pose a significant risk.