The UK Government has launched its first study to measure levels of so-called “forever chemicals” in the population, with the aim of improving understanding of potential health risks. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will analyse blood and urine samples collected through the existing Health Survey for England. Initial results are expected next year.

The study will establish baseline levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), as well as lead, arsenic, bisphenols, phthalates and flame retardants. UKHSA says there are still gaps in knowledge about what different levels of exposure could mean for a person’s long-term health.

PFAS have been widely used since the 1940s and 1950s because they resist water, oil and heat. They are found in products including cookware, clothing and firefighting foams. The substances persist in the environment, prompting concern about possible health effects. More than 15,000 types of PFAS remain to be studied.

The agency says current evidence suggests that the potential health impacts of PFAS are likely to be limited. However, the strongest associations identified in large population studies include higher cholesterol and lower birth weights. The UK has banned two PFAS, PFOA and PFOS, because prolonged exposure to them can increase cancer risk, according to the World Health Organization.

The government does not recommend routine blood testing for individuals, UKHSA director Edward Wynne-Evans said, because there is no established clinical action to take if a person has elevated levels. He said the new study would help build evidence about potential effects.

The UKHSA study comes amid concern among people living near sites with PFAS contamination. A report in September found very high levels of PFOA in dozens of people living near a major chemical factory. Professor Tony Fletcher of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine said PFAS are likely present at low levels in everyone’s blood, while adverse health effects have been associated with higher exposure in large populations.

Sources: BBC News UK.