Council warns residents about vegetables grown near a chemical plant due to high levels of dangerous chemicals.
The veggies had too much of a cancer-causing thing; it was eight times the safety limit. They’ll tell folks who live close by. It’s near the old AGC Chemicals site. The council checked after a problem with PFOA happened in September.
They used PFOA there from the 1950s to 2012. This chemical doesn’t break down easily. These chemicals are in many things. They’re in waterproof fabrics and carpets. You can find them in cosmetics and phone screens. They are also in food packaging.
PFOAs can cause serious health issues. They link to cancers and lower immunity. Also, they affect fertility and infant growth. They seem to mess with hormones too.
Vincent thinks people shouldn’t eat those veggies.
He suggests everyone uses common sense. The council isn’t a health agency; they care about their residents. He says the risk seems low, but he wants better advice for everyone. People should feel more secure, he thinks.
The council says high PFOA levels aren’t always bad. They need more risk testing. Residents can still use their gardens, though.
You should wash your hands after gardening. They should also wash and peel the veggies. That will remove any dirt as well.
Vincent says they’ll write to residents again. They will urge people to wait on eating these veggies. More tests are coming soon, he added. The Environment Agency will do those tests soon.