About PFAS
Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, are a group of man-made chemicals used in products to resist heat, oil, stains and water.
They're commonly used in:
- clothing
- furniture
- adhesives
- food packaging
- heat resistant nonstick cooking surfaces
- insulation of electrical wire
PFAS doesn’t happen naturally in the environment and are extremely persistent because they resist degradation processes. They are often referred to as forever chemicals.
Common members of the PFAS family include:
- PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate)
- PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid)
- PFHxS (perfluorohexane sulfonate)
PFAS are in so many common products that it is widely believed that everyone has low levels of PFAS chemicals in their blood.
PFAS in Jersey
PFAS are of particular interest in Jersey because of their presence in some borehole and wells.
Fire fighting foams that contained PFAS chemicals were historically used at Jersey Airport. This was before we better understood the environmental significance.
Private boreholes and wells in that area now contain PFAS.
Following this discovery, the Government of Jersey and Ports of Jersey have done sampling and associated remedial work. This work is still ongoing.
Most countries have now stopped using PFAS in firefighting foam: because of the potential harm on health, as a precautionary measure.
Officer Technical Group
In February 2019, we established an Officer Technical Group. The group oversees a programme of work to understand more about levels of PFAS in water and implications these may have.
The group meets monthly and includes representatives from:
- Environmental and Consumer Protection
- Natural Environment
- Public Health
- Jersey Water
Read the Officer Technical Group's Interim Report for 2019
Read the Officer Technical Group's Interim Report for 2020
Environmental research
In December 2018 we began an investigation into PFAS levels in private water supplies in Jersey. We presented the initial findings and advice for those with private water supplies at public meetings.
A number of recommendations in the Interim Reports focus on understanding the position, movement, future risk and options for clean up of two PFAS plumes in St Ouen's Bay and Pont Marquet areas of Jersey.
A hydrogeological survey of both these areas is being undertaken. Phase 1 represents the assessment of all historic sampling data and identification of future data needs and is now complete.
In 2021, the Government of Jersey engaged Arcadis Consulting (UK) Ltd to undertake a hydrogeological study. This was to assess PFAS distribution and potential risks as well as identify potential remediation options.
Phase 1 of the study was reported in June 2023. This developed an initial understanding of PFAS contamination using historical data.
Phase 2 of the study involved:
- Further assessment and monitoring
- Hydrogeological studies (Hydrogeological Conceptual Model)
- Risk assessment
- Remediation optioneering (High Level Remediation Options Appraisal)
- Support for the development of any future PFAS-specific Waste Acceptance Criteria for La Collette landfill
If you would like more information, see both reports as well as a non-technical summary for each. You can also view Government of Jersey's response to the report.
Government of Jersey Response to Arcadis Hydrogeological Risk Assessment Report
PFAS Hydrogeological Study Phase 2 report, non-technical summary
PFAS Hydrogeological Study Phase 2 report
PFAS Hydrogeological Study Phase 1 report, non-technical summary
PFAS Hydrogeological Study Phase 1 report
PFAS levels in potatoes from St Ouen's bay
In 2023, potatoes from St Ouen’s Bay were tested in an independent laboratory in the UK for PFAS levels.
The Government of Jersey’s Environmental and Consumer Protection team subsequently informed the field owner that they had no reason to believe that the tested potatoes were unsafe.
Assessment of potatoes grown within St Ouen’s Bay to explore the presence of PFAS
Water quality in Jersey 2024
Jersey Water tests both raw and treated water for PFAS, ensuring safe drinking water for the island.
Their 2024 report shows all water samples meet EU and UK standards for PFAS.
Samples are sent to a external third-party lab in the UK for testing 48 PFAS compounds. Of these, 40 were not found. Only 8 were detected, all below safety limits.
For more details on water quality and efforts to reduce PFAS, visit the Jersey Water website.
Water Quality Report - Jersey Water
Getting your water tested
Testing for PFAS in water requires technical procedures. It is not part of the normal drinking water suite currently undertaken by the Government of Jersey Official Analyst.
If you want to have your private water supplies tested for PFAS contact Jersey Water. You'll need to pay a fee.
Health effects of PFAS
There is increasing international concern and research about the health effects of PFAS exposure. This remains a relatively new area of human research. There is no international agreement about what a 'normal' level of PFAS in the blood is, or what level might be harmful for health.
Despite growing international interest, it is difficult to interpret the evidence between PFAS and human health impacts, for example:
- This is an emerging field of knowledge; more international research will be necessary over the coming years to provide evidence that either supports or refutes what is understood currently
- It is difficult to determine the health impacts of environmental contaminants because of correlated exposures, the small relative risk of disease attributed to exposure, and because, for ethical reasons, randomised controlled trials cannot be conducted
- PFAS chemicals are everywhere, meaning that most populations are expected to have some level of PFAS in their blood
- Lack of evidence does not mean evidence of no effect; there may be other conditions associated with PFAS exposure but the scientific evidence is not yet available to draw firm conclusions.
The PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel have published their report into the health effects of PFAS. They reviewed scientific literature and spoke to Islanders from the affected area around the airport, and researchers who work in this field.
The Panel reviewed the health literature for health conditions raised by affected Islanders and the researchers. They determined that the scientific literature suggests that there are health effects caused by PFAS following exposure incidents, such as that around Jersey airport.
In 2024, the World Health Organisation determined that PFOA is carcinogenic (i.e. causes cancer) and that PFOS is ‘possibly’ carcinogenic.
The Panel determined that the following health implications are ‘most likely’ to be affected by significant PFAS exposure:
- Increased cholesterol
- Reduced vaccination efficiency in children
- Reduced duration of breastfeeding in exposed mothers
The Panel determined that the following conditions are ‘probably’ affected by significant PFAS exposure:
- Kidney cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Liver function
More information can be found in the Panel’s
final Report 2 on health effects.
It remains good advice for people to avoid significant exposure to PFAS where possible, although complete avoidance of PFAS exposure would be very difficult as PFAS can be found in all societies worldwide.
Blood testing
In 2022, one off blood testing was provided for a group of Islanders who may have been affected by the historic use of PFAS at the airport. The eligibility criteria included living (for one year) or working (for two years) in the plume area, and reporting regularly drinking water from a private supply (such as a borehole or well), and having at least 1 symptom that is consistent with the health concerns that are related to PFAS.
There are some significant challenges with blood testing for PFAS:
- there is no scientific agreement or any standard methodology for interpreting blood results
- there are no internationally agreed clinical limits for 'normal' PFAS levels in blood
- there are a limited number of reference populations worldwide for comparison. We compared Jersey’s results to USA population data, which may have different background levels of PFAS and so may not be an ideal comparator
The results showed that some people had higher levels of PFAS in their blood compared to the reference population in the United States.
Results of blood testing for PFAS chemicals
The panel of international scientific experts will advise government on potential interventions to reduce PFAS in the blood, testing and re-testing, and environmental management.
Water Quality and Safety Programme
The Water Quality and Safety (WQS) Programme is in place to address public concerns about PFAS in the environment and their impact on our water. This programme brings together many departments. The aim is to provide a one government response to water quality in Jersey.
Programme board
The board meets monthly to provide updates and make important decisions. It is joint chaired by both:
- Minister for the Environment
- Minister for Health and Social Services
Programme board meeting dates:
Programme team
The programme team meets monthly to update on each of the different areas of the programme. They will make decisions where possible and decide what needs to be escalated to the programme board.
The chair of the team is the Group Director of Regulation. Officers from different areas of government make up the rest of the team.
Programme team meeting dates:
Frequently asked questions
We have put together a list of questions we received through the public Islander meeting on 26 November 2024 as well as emails to our inbox. These have been answered in the document below.
This will continue to be updated with the questions you ask throughout these meetings.
WQS Questions and Answers
PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel
The PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel is an independent panel. It's made up of external experts recruited from a global pool of specialists in their field.
The panel is chaired by Dr Steve Hajioff who is independent of the government and PFAS research. This is to provide a robust and balanced overview to the work of the panel.
Purpose of the panel
The purpose of the panel is to coordinate and provide expert advice on PFAS issues. This is to enable an effective and evidenced based approach to decision making, enabling a sound and informed response to PFAS matters on the Island.
The responsibilities and tasks of the panel are to:
- agree a programme of work and timeline and deliver the reports as outlined below
- engage affected islanders' knowledge, expertise, and views into the work of the panel
- seek out and engage expert views from other professionals as required
The panel members
The panel is a small group of experts which includes:
- Independent Chair, Dr Steve Hajioff
- Dr Tony Fletcher, PFAS and health expert and epidemiologist
- Professor Ian Cousins, PFAS and environment expert
PFAS panel membership
The Chair is responsible for coordinating the panel.
The members of the panel may also call additional global experts to provide, for example, expert testimonies or clinical advice. Islanders will also be asked to provide expert testimonies to contribute to the evidence base.
Meetings
Meetings are held virtually. If you’d like to watch the live meeting or receive the recording, email RegulationEnquiries@gov.je.
2025
2024 to 2023
Engagement events for Islanders
The next Islander meeting will be held on 1st May 2025. The purpose of this meeting is to launch the Hydrogeological Survey report prepared by Arcadis. Arcadis is an independent environmental consultancy commissioned by the Government of Jersey to assess PFAS distribution around the St Ouen’s Bay catchment area and potential remediation options.
Representatives from Arcadis will give a presentation of their findings and be available to take questions. An initial Government response will also be presented by the Group Director for Regulation.
The start time for this meeting will be 6pm and will take place at St. Brelade's Social Club. Please note extra parking has been provided in Les Quennevais School car park.
Islander meeting notes and slides
Reports and documents
Report launches will be in person, held in the Parish of St Peter and after 5pm where possible.
The panel will develop the following reports:
- review of therapeutic phlebotomy such as having blood taken to reduce PFAS levels
- assessment of the impact of PFAS exposure on health
- clinical interventions and blood testing and re-testing
- environmental management
- updates on the previous reports
First Report of the Independent PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel for Jersey
Second Report of the Independent PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel for Jersey
Drafts
Draft: PFAS in the human body
Draft: A summary of conditions raised by Islanders
Draft Third Report of the Independent PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel for Jersey
Draft Second Report of the Independent PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel for Jersey
Draft First Report of the Independent PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel for Jersey
Draft review of the published literature on phlebotomy to manage PFAS
Draft risks and benefits of phlebotomy
Draft types of clinical studies
Newsletters
PFAS newsletter January 2025
PFAS newsletter August 2024
PFAS newsletter April 2024
PFAS newsletter December 2023
To receive a copy of previous newsletters email RegulationEnquiries@gov.je.
Islander information
PFAS Blood Testing in Jersey: Supporting information to help understand your result
PFOS Briefing on YouTube
gov.je