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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Rachel Salvidge and Leana Hosea

Toxic substances from chemicals firm site found polluting protected river

A mudbank in the River Wyre estuary as it meets Morecambe Bay
Samples of the effluent flowing into the River Wyre found some of the highest PFAS concentrations ever recorded in environmental samples, according to a forensic scientist. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Toxic substances from the site of a chemicals company have been found polluting a protected river in Lancashire at “extremely high levels”, in what has been described as a “huge concern”, an investigation by the Guardian and Watershed Investigations has uncovered.

More than 700 types of perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) were detected in effluent coming from the site of AGC Chemicals’ plant at Thornton Cleveleys, near Blackpool, into the River Wyre which flows into Morecambe Bay.

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